- Jerome Brouillet is photographer of the Olympic Games’ surfing competition
- He captures one of the event’s defining moments
- Gabriel Medina rode an almost perfect 9.90
When AFP photographer Jerome Brouillet headed out to cover the third day of the Olympic Games’ surfing competition in Tahiti, he didn’t expect to capture one of the event’s defining moments. During the fifth heat, Brazilian three-time world champion Gabriel Medina rode a colossal wave, scoring an almost perfect 9.90 — an Olympic record. From a boat, Brouillet photographed Medina emerging from the wave with his arm raised and his surfboard perfectly aligned.
Sensing something extraordinary, Brouillet took four shots of Medina’s celebratory exit from the wave. The photo quickly went viral, earning over 5.7 million likes on Medina’s Instagram. Brouillet, who moved to Tahiti a decade ago and is an accomplished surfer and photographer, credited his success to preparation, timing, and a touch of luck.
The surfing events at the Paris Games are being held at Teahupo’o, famous for its heavy, powerful waves breaking over a shallow reef. This challenging spot has long both intimidated and attracted top surfers. Brouillet’s remarkable photo encapsulates the intense and dangerous beauty of Olympic surfing in Tahiti.
