Gabriel Medina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gabriel Medina |
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Medina in 2018
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 22 December 1993 São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil |
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| Residence | São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 169 lb (77 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surfing career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best year | 1st: 2014, 2018 and 2021 - WSL World Champion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sponsors | Matt Nabney, Rip Curl, Adidas, Guaraná Antarctica, Vivo, Audi, Samsung Galaxy, Oakley, Gorilla, FCS traction and fins, Vult, Coppertone, Tokoro Surfboards, Monster Energy, Corona (beer), Blaze Online Casino | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Major achievements |
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| Surfing specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Goofy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shaper(s) | Johnny Cabianca | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite waves | Teahupo'o | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite maneuvers | Aerials, Barrels | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Gabriel Medina Pinto Ferreira (born 22 December 1993) is a famous Brazilian professional surfer. He is known for winning the WSL World Championships three times: in 2014, 2018, and 2021. Gabriel also earned a bronze medal at the Olympic surfing tournament in 2024.
At just 15 years old in 2009, Gabriel Medina became the youngest surfer to win a big Qualifying Series event. He joined the World Surf League Tour in 2011. In his first year, he finished in the top 12 of the ASP (now WSL) World Tour. Since 2015, Gabriel has won more Championship Tour events than any other surfer. He was also the first person to successfully land a "Backflip" move in a competition, which happened at the Oi Rio Pro in 2016.
Contents
Early Life and Surfing Career
Gabriel Medina was born in São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil. He grew up in a place called Maresias. He started surfing when he was only four years old. By the age of 11, he won his first national championship, the Rip Curl Grom Search, for surfers under 12. This event took place in Búzios, Rio de Janeiro.
Gabriel won many Brazilian amateur championships. These included the Volcom Sub-14, Quicksilver King of Groms, and Rip Curl Grom Search. He also won the state championship three times. When he was 14, he competed in the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and beat his idol, Adriano de Souza. In July 2009, Gabriel signed a contract with Rip Curl. Just ten days later, at 15, he became the youngest male to win an open-age professional surfing competition. This win broke a long-standing record held by Australian Nick Wood.
In 2011, Gabriel won several championships against top surfers. He won WQS events in Brazil, France, and Spain. He also won the Pro Junior World Championship in France. At 17, Gabriel joined the 2011 ASP World Championship Tour. Even though he only competed for half the season, he won two World Championship Tour (WCT) events in France and the USA.
Becoming a World Champion
First World Title in 2014
In 2013, Gabriel Medina won the World Junior Tour (ASP) when he was 19. The next year, in the 2014 WCT season, he won the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. He was the first Brazilian male surfer to win there. He also won the Volcom Fiji Pro and the Billabong Pro Teahupoo in Tahiti. He beat Kelly Slater in a very close final. Later that year, Gabriel finished second at the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Hawaii. This made him the first Brazilian ASP World Champion at 20 years old. He was the youngest champion since Kelly Slater in 1992.
Triple Crown and More Wins
In 2015, Gabriel won the Quiksilver Pro France. This was his sixth WCT event win. He also reached the finals at the Billabong Pipe Masters in Hawaii. This made him the first Brazilian to win the Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing title. He finished the 2015 WCT season in third place.
On May 14, 2016, Gabriel made history at the Oi Rio Pro. He became the first surfer to land a "Backflip" move in a competition. He earned a perfect score of 10 from all five judges for this amazing trick. Later that year, in the Fiji Islands, he won his seventh WCT event. This made him the most successful Brazilian surfer in the history of the CT at just 22 years old.
Success in 2017 and Second World Title
In 2017, Gabriel was one of the first surfers to win a competition in a man-made wave pool. This happened at Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch in California. He also won two more events, the Quiksilver Pro France and the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal. By age 23, he had 9 WCT wins. He finished the 2017 season in second place.
In 2018, Gabriel had a great start to the season. He won events in Tahiti, the wave pool in California, and Pipeline. This made him a two-time world champion at 24 years old. It was a big year for Brazilian surfing, with Brazilian surfers winning 9 out of 11 events on the tour.
2019 Season and Olympic Journey
In 2019, Gabriel won his 13th CT event in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. He was part of the first-ever final in J-Bay where both surfers rode with a "goofy-foot" stance. He was also only the second goofy-footer to win that event in 35 years.
In September 2019, Gabriel competed in the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games in Japan. This event was important for qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games. He won a bronze medal in the men's division. Brazil also won the team gold medal at these games. A week later, Gabriel won his 14th CT event at Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch. This was his third win at that location.
Gabriel was chosen to represent Brazil at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He finished in fourth place, just missing a bronze medal.
Third World Title in 2021
In the 2021 season, Gabriel won his third world title. He won 3 out of 8 tour events and placed second in three others. This win put him in a special group of surfers with three World Titles, including Tom Curren, Andy Irons, and Mick Fanning. With 16 WSL Championship Tour wins, Gabriel is known for performing well under pressure. He is second only to Kelly Slater for the most World Titles among current surfers.
Recent Competitions and Injuries
In January 2022, Gabriel announced he would take a break from competitive surfing to focus on his well-being. He later returned to the 2022 season. He placed third at the Quiksilver Pro G-Land and the El Salvador Pro. However, he got a knee injury at the Oi Rio Pro, which made him miss the rest of the season.
On March 3, 2024, Gabriel won the men's final at the ISA World Surfing Games. This qualified him for the 2024 Olympic Games as Brazil's third surfer. At the Olympics, he had the highest single-wave score of the tournament, a 9.9. A picture of him appearing to float in mid-air after landing a trick went viral. He won the bronze medal by beating Alonso Correa.
On January 11, 2025, Gabriel shared on Instagram that he hurt his pectoral muscle while surfing in Brazil. This injury means he will miss the first three events of the 2025 World Surf League Championship Tour.
Surfboards and Equipment
Gabriel Medina has worked with his surfboard shaper, Johnny Cabianca, since 2008. Johnny Cabianca is a famous surfboard shaper from Brazil who lives in Spain. Gabriel uses about 100 surfboards each year. His first win on a Cabianca Surfboard was at the Quiksilver Pro France in 2015. Sometimes, Gabriel also uses boards shaped by Wade Tokoro for special events like the Triple Crown.
In September 2020, Gabriel also launched his own line of easy-to-use softboards called "Medina Softboards."
Filmography
Acting Roles
- Luiza Possi: Lembra (2017)
- Surf Chronicles (2011)
As Himself
- Tempestade Perfeita (2021)
- É Ouro! O Brilho do Brasil em Tóquio (2021)
- World Debut (2021)
- Gabriel Medina (2020)
- Mundo Medina (2019)
- No Contest (2018)
- Rip Curl's The Search (2014–2017)
- Vai Fernandinha (2016)
- Samsung: Surf - The Snail (2016)
- Xuxa Meneghel (2015)
- Today (2014)
- Diário das Ilhas (2012)
- Noronha Prime (2012)
Images for kids
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Medina in 2018
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Gabriel Medina pictured after winning the 2018 Billabong Pipe Masters and 2018 WSL world title
See also
In Spanish: Gabriel Medina (surfista) para niños
