With some fine victories already under its belt, France intends to ride the wave and pick up as many awards as possible for these Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After a memorable opening ceremony, events in the capital's most beautiful venues and an ultra-innovative Olympic cauldron, head now for the waters of Teahupo'o, in French Polynesia.
And what better example than Johanne Defay to illustrate this boundless ambition? On the night of August 5 to 6, 2024 (Paris time), the woman considered to be the best French surfer of all time once again struck hard, winning bronze in a thrilling surfing final.
Defay, with her eight World Surfing League victories and a European Championship title at just 15 years of age, demonstrated why she is considered a living surfing legend. At the age of 30, the Reunionese athlete dominated the waves of Teahupo'o with a remarkable performance, beating Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy.
After one maneuver after another, leaving her rival on the sidelines, she finally took the bronze medal, adding another victory to her impressive record and further enriching France's, bringing the total to 47 medals: 12 gold, 16 silver and 19 bronze.
This triumph marks France's first bronze medal in surfing at the Olympic Games, and testifies to Johanne Defay 's exceptional mastery of the waves. As well as being a personal victory, it's a historic moment for French surfing and for France as a whole.
Vive la France, and long live surf!
