Reigning world champion Caroline Marks secured a gold medal on Monday in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, defeating Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb after facing several weather delays leading up to the final event.
At just 22 years old, Marks is competing in her second Olympics after previously participating in Tokyo, where she did not medal. This victory marks her first Olympic medal.
Weston-Webb will take home the silver medal, while France’s Johanne Defay earned the bronze.
Originally from Melbourne Beach, Florida, but currently residing in San Clemente, California, Marks expressed her delight before the final, knowing she would earn a medal, with the only uncertainty being its color.
The surfing competitions took place thousands of miles away from Paris in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, a semi-autonomous territory of France. Tahiti showcased its vibrant culture and honored the traditions of the sport, offering a bright and welcoming atmosphere for the Olympic event.
Marks secured her gold with a score of 10.50, while Weston-Webb scored 10.33 and Defay achieved 12.66.
In Olympic surfing, a panel of five judges assesses each wave ride on a scale from 1 to 10, using 0.01 increments. The highest and lowest scores are discarded, and the average of the three remaining scores forms the total for that ride. The final score is derived from adding together an athlete’s two best rides.