Rio Waida completes his long road to Paris 2024 qualification

 

Heading into the 2024 WSG, Tokyo 2020 Olympian Rio Waida (INA) had seen qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games slip through his fingers three times, two of them being as close as you could get without achieving it. Today, the 24-year-old finally grasped it with both hands.

 

Moving through a must-progress Repechage Round 8 heat proved to be all that was necessary after Sebastian Williams (MEX) bowed out in Repechage Round 9, Heat 1 with a 7.50 heat total. Once Waida, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) and Tim Elter (GER) had each posted two scores that added to more than Williams’ total in the second heat of the round, the trio were each qualified for the Olympic Games, along with Andy Criere (ESP), who had advanced alongside Yago Dora (BRA) over Williams. Waida couldn’t have been more happy to finally achieve his goal.

 

“It was a rough road,” Waida said. “There was four events for me to have opportunity to qualify, first it was CT (WSL Championship Tour), I had to make top ten, I didn’t get it, and then ISA Huntington, I had to win and it was very close, that one really hurt me, and then last year in El Salvador I did really bad. I was nervous coming to this event, but during the off season last year I worked hard. Whatever it is, I would do anything to qualify. The last ten days I just let it happen, just enjoy it and just surf, that’s it. 

 

“I’m excited for Tahiti. The Olympics are one of the biggest events for the athletes. I’m just happy, I can’t wait for the Olympics. I’m sure I will push my level again in Tahiti. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world, so I’m excited to go.”

 

 

"Indonesia is proud of you Rio Waida..."

 

 

PARIS 2024 QUALIFIED ATHLETES FROM ISA 2024 WSG

 

Women

Anat Lelior (ISR)

Camilla Kemp (GER)

Janire Gonzalez-Extabarri (ESP)

Nadia Erostarbe (ESP)

Siqi Yang (CHN)

Sol Aguirre (PER)

Taina Hinckel (BRA)

Yolanda Sequeira (POR)

 

Men

Alonso Correa (PER)

Andy Criere (ESP)

Joan Duru (FRA)

Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)

Rio Waida (INA)

Tim Elter (GER)

 

PREVIOUSLY QUALIFIED ATHLETES

 

Women

 

Qualified via 2023 ISA WSG

Saffi Vette (NZL)

Sarah Baum (RSA)

Shino Matsuda (JPN)

Vahine Fierro (FRA)

 

Qualified via WSL Championship Tour:

 

Brisa Hennessy (CRC)

Carissa Moore (USA)

Caroline Marks (USA)

Johanne Defay (FRA)

Molly Picklum (AUS)

Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)

Teresa Bonvalot (POR)

Tyler Wright (AUS)

 

Men

 

Qualified via 2023 ISA WSG

Alan Cleland Jr (MEX)

Billy Stairmand (NZL)

Kauli Vaast (FRA)

Reo Inaba (JPN)

 

Qualified via WSL Championship Tour

Ethan Ewing (AUS)

Filipe Toledo (BRA)

Griffin Colapinto (USA)

Jack Robinson (AUS)

João Chianca (BRA)

John John Florence (USA)

Jordy Smith (RSA)

Matthew McGillivray (RSA)

Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)

Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)