Paris Olympics: Tahiti's golden boy dedicates win to family, village

From local hero to Olympic champion. Kauli Vaast is king of Teahupo’o.

It was a fairytale ending for the Tahitian surfer, etching his name in the history books this week.

Vaast's parents are avid surfers: Dad Gaēl Vaast (shortboards) is a Māʼohi or Tahitian native and mum Natou Thupalua (longboards) has Tahitian origins and Kanak, the indigenous Melanesians of New Caledonia.

Born in Vairao, Vaast was introduced to the sport by his father when he was just four.

"I don’t remember it clearly, but I’ve seen the photo of me and dad surfing in the water of Vairao."

The Olympic champion raises the French flag after beating Australian Jack Robinson for the gold medal. Photo/Morgan Maasen

While the Olympics are being held in Paris, surfing was hosted nearly 10,000 miles away at Teahupo'o in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Teahupoʻo is a village on the southeastern coast of Tahiti.

Tahiti was chosen for its legendary Teahupo'o wave, which Vaast says he first surfed when he was eight years old.

On a typical warm day in the tropics, the surfers were tested with tricky conditions across seven rides. Yes, they get seven waves across two heats to prove who is the best. It took Vaast just two rides.

Vaast faced Australian Jack Robinson in the final on Tuesday and watching the race on television, the local star looked calm and composed.

The 22-year-old rode the wave almost perfectly, earning a 9.5 score, to the roar of the home fans chanting "Kauli, Kauli". His family and friends were also cheering him on on the nearby flotilla.

Robinson replied with a 7.83 attempt before Vaast backed his earlier score with an 8.0 ride which was enough to clinch the gold medal for France.

"It's really something special for me to win the Olympics at home on the best wave in the world," he told the waiting media.

"We had crazy waves today in the final; it was just insane. I’m used to surfing that wave; for me, it’s the best wave in the world.

"I just wanted to be one of the best surfers out there because I love this and I love spending hours out there.

"I get the best sensation and vision out there surfing big and small waves. Just Teahupo’o like this.

"I never thought a day like this would happen and now this wild dream has come true. Such a big dream and goal and I just met it,” the young star said.

He was given a standing ovation on the water as he made his way to the shore on his board.

He raised the French flag amid the cheers with his coach Jeremy Flores on the jet ski. No longer just a homeboy but an Olympic champion.

When Vaast reached the shore, the fan zone erupted with roars of "Kauli, Kauli" again as he made his lap of honour to the podium to receive his medal.

Vaast paid tribute to his family and his community, saying the win was for them, for Teahupoʻo, and for everyone in Tahiti.

Younger sister Aelan Vaast, 19, has already enjoyed success, taking inspiration from the "super powerful, fluent" technique of her brother.

Younger brother Naiki is also making a name for himself in the Teahupo'o waves aged 16.

Kauli told the media that he felt there was a spiritual energy, specific to the region, driving him to the gold medal.

“I had a great connection with the ocean since the beginning of the contest. It comes from a lot of work, and a lot of time spent in the water.

"I have spent a really long time in the water in lots of conditions and it was long and hard, but I kept going and never gave up, which paid off.

“I feel lucky to finally get the rhythm into a big contest like this. I really had the mana, it’s what we have here, the spirit and energy that all the people, all the Polynesians give to me, and I could feel it. It was something special.”

Brazil's Gabriel Medina won the bronze and an Olympic record 9.9 that he received earlier in the competition. Medina beat Peru's Alonso Correa who lost to Vaast in the semifinal.

Papua New Guinea's John Ume lands a punch on Cuban Erislandy Borges during their lightweight bout in Paris. Ume lost in a TKO on his Olympic debut. Photo/Team PNG

American Caroline Marks (10.50) won the women's competition in a close contest against Brazillian Tatiana Weston-Webb (10.33).

France's Johanne Defay (12.66), who hails from the mountainous region of Auvergne, beat Costa Rica's Brisa Hennessy (4.93) for bronze.

Results

Sāmoa's Samalulu Clifton and Guam's Raina Taitingfong both qualified for the women's kayak single 500m quarterfinals at the Nautical St-Flat water arena in Paris along with New Zealand's Lisa Carrington, the former Olympic champion, and favourite Aimee Fisher, who clocked a world best of 1.46.19 in May.

Clifton's brother Tuva'a also qualified for the men's kayak single 1000m quarterfinals. The Cliftons and Taitingfong did not progress to the semifinals.

However, Taitingfong will go on to compete in the women's canoe singles 200m heats tonight (Thursday). The fastest two in each heat qualify for the semis while the rest head to the quarters which will also be held tonight.

Still on the water, Fijian sailor Viliame Ratulu did not make the finals in the men's dinghy. Team-mate Sophia Morgan also missed out on the finals.

In the track and field, Sāmoa's Alex Rose finished the final of the men's discus throw in 12th place with 61.89m.

Jamaican Rojē Stona upset world record holder Mykolas Alekna (74.53m), of Lithuania, to claim the gold and his country's first-ever medal in the event. Stona threw 70.00m which Alkena could not beat with his best attempt at 69.97m. But the Lithuanian bettered his father Virgilijus Alekna's Olympic record set 20 years ago.

Vanuatu's Priscilla Tommy, left, trains with fellow Oceania table tennis player Vicky Wu from Fiji in Paris. Photo/Team Fiji

Vanuatu's Priscilla Tommy lost to American Amy Wang 4-0 in round two of the women's table tennis.

Papua New Guinea boxer John Ume lost to Cuban Erislandy Borges (TKO) in their men's lightweight bout. But Ume's team-mate weightlifter Morea Baru finished a Games best of 5th place in the men's 61kg final with a 279kg haul. Kiribati's Kaimauri Erati finished in seventh place with 220kg.

Still on weightlifting, Guam's Nicola Lagatao finished in 11th place (136kg) in the women's 49kg event. Her team-mate Rckaela Aquino will feature in Thursday night's women's wrestling - freestyle 57kg quarterfinal.

Previews

With the Games wrapping up on Monday, NZ time, there are some events yet to be completed including Taekwondo with Fiji's Lolohea Naitasi up against Jordan's Julyana Alsadeq in the women's -67kg round of 16 on Friday night.

Naitasi's team-mate Venice Traill will take on Great Britain's Rebecca McGowan in the women's +67kg round of 16 while team-mate Gibson Mara takes on Kasra Mehdipounejad, of the Refugee Olympic Team, in the men's +80kg event on Saturday.

PNG's Kevin Kassman will face Brit Bradly Sinden in men's taekwondo 68kg contest on Thursday night.

Sāmoa's Don Opeloge will front up at the men's 102kg weightlifting event on Saturday night while team-mate Iuniarra Sipaia will contest the women's +81kg event on Sunday. She will be joined by Vanuatu's Ajah Pritchard-Lolo.

So far, Team Pacific has the lone Fiji rugby sevens silver medal.

The Paris Olympics end on 12 August. Find the official medal tally here.

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