Filipe Toledo wins stage of the World Cup and earns an Olympic spot – 07/19/2023 – Sports

Filipe Toledo got another good result at the Surfing World Cup. The 28-year-old Brazilian prevailed over his opponents on the final day of disputes at the Jeffreys Bay stage, in South Africa, on Wednesday (19), and consolidated himself in the leadership of the season.

Classified in advance for the decisive stage of the championship, which will take place in September, in San Clemente, in the United States, the São Paulo native from Ubatuba secured another important spot. It will be at the Paris Olympics next year.

“It’s a wonderful feeling. Every surfer seeks to be world champion, but competing in the Olympics is the apex in any sport. I’m very happy and I hope to represent Brazil in the best way next year”, declared the current world champion.

The place was already secured in the semifinals of J-Bay, with a victory over the Japanese Kanoa Igarashi. But Filipe wasn’t satisfied and ran over Australian Ethan Ewing, who never came close to threatening him, in the decision.

Toledo scored 8.83 and 9.93, totaling 18.76. His opponent scored 12.6 (5.67 + 6.93) and had to settle for another second place – in the previous stage, in Saquarema, Brazil, he lost the final to the Brazilian Yago Dora.

The season is now going to its last qualifying stage, in Tahiti, with the opening of the competition window on August 11th. In addition to Filipe, Ethan Ewing himself and the American Griffin Colapinto already have a guaranteed place in the decision.

Two vacancies remain, with three Brazilians among the postulants. João Chianca is fourth in the ranking, and Yago Dora, fifth, complete the current classification zone, with Gabriel Medina sixth. These three are also competing for Brazil’s second place in the Olympic Games via the World Cup.

Italo Ferreira, who won the first Olympic surfing dispute, in Tokyo, is out of the season. The potiguar is in 12th place and suffered a knee injury that took him out of the circuit. He will have another chance next year, via Isa Games, to try to go to Paris-2024.

Among women, Tatiana Weston-Webb is classified for the Olympic tournament, but in a difficult situation at the Worlds, with eighth place. The gaucho will need to have an expressive result in Tahiti to enter the top 5 and advance to the decision in San Clemente.