Gabriel Medina becomes Brazil’s first world surfing champion at 20
Gabriel Medina has won his first ASP World Championship Tour surfing title, becoming the first Brazilian to claim the sport’s top prize.
The 20-year-old clinched the championship Friday when Australian Mick Fanning, the defending world champion, failed to advance out of the fifth round of the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Hawaii.
Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater of Florida had previously been eliminated Friday when he failed to advance out of the third round.
Medina has advanced to the Pipeline Masters semifinals by defeating countryman Filipe Toledo. Medina will face Australian Josh Kerr.
It was another Brazilian, Alejo Muniz, who helped deliver the title to Medina. Muniz defeated Slater and Fanning on his way to the Pipe Masters quarterfinals.
Medina broke onto surfing’s biggest stage at 17 when he finished 12th on the World Championship Tour. He has 11 professional victories, including five on the WCT. He finished seventh in 2012 and 13th last year.
