A dominant opening day in the water has Steph Gilmore daring to dream of an all-Australian fight for surfing gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
Seven-time world champion Gilmore could not have been more impressive in cruising through to the third round, where she will be joined by fellow Australian surfers Sally Fitzgibbons, Owen Wright and Julian Wilson.
Gilmore, Fitzgibbons and Wright all won their respective first round heats as the sport enjoyed its Olympic debut, while Wilson scraped through after being forced to take part in the sudden-death second round.
“We’re just trying to enjoy the experience. This is really such a trip to be here at the Olympics,” Gilmore said.
“Sally and I are fired up. Hopefully, we can meet in the final – that would be great. But the Americans are hard to beat.”
So too will the Australians, with Gilmore showing her class to produce the highest two-wave total of the day with a 14.5 courtesy of a classic 7.83 ride which handed her control of the heat.
“There’s actually a lot of opportunities out there because the typhoon has brought in a bit of swell. With this wind, it actually breaks up the waves, and it allows the surfers to move around the line-up and get more opportunities, which is actually a good thing.”
Fitzgibbons used a 7-point ride to power her way into Monday’s third round where she will go head-to-head with France’s Pauline Ado, while Gilmore will take on South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag.
But also lurking in the third round is four-time world champion and current WSL ratings leader Carissa Moore, who was untroubled in winning the opening heat of the women’s competition.
Wright chipped away to win his morning heat, producing four rides between 4.43 and 5.51.
His two-wave total of 10.4 was enough to hold off Moroccan surprise packet Ramzi Boukhiam as two-time world champion John John Florence was relegated to the second round, though the American eventually progressed.
Wright admitted pre-event nerves had him feeling sick before his heat as he set up a third round meeting with France’s Jeremy Flores.
“I’m feeling pretty emotional,” Wright admitted.
“It’s a whole different thing surfing in the Olympics. It’s a very proud moment for me. Olympics is a whole different ballgame. I’ve never felt this type of emotion whilst competing before – a super proud moment to get that first heat win.”
Wilson’s reward for getting through to round three is a meeting with two-time surfing world champion and current men’s WSL ratings leader Gabriel Medina of Brazil.
AAP
