Gabriel Medina is a polarizing figure in surfing. For a large percentage of surf fans, he’s a love him or hate him kind of guy. He is unabashedly competitive. He’ll do what it takes to win. Oh, he’s got the surfing skill, but to win world titles, the pro surfer needs something more: the competitive savvy and pure, unadulterated drive to do what it takes to win. Gabriel Medina has that in spades. He’s got that in shovels. He’s got it in wheelbarrows. And he doesn’t care if you hate him for it.
A while back, the World Surf League stitched together all of John John Florence’s excellent scoring waves. As is to be expected with years and years of surfing heats, it was a highlight reel to end all highlight reels. Well, they’ve given Medina the same treatment, and now it appears that there are two highlight reels to end all highlight reels.
“There’s a reason Gabriel Medina is the most popular athlete on the Championship Tour,” the WSL wrote. “He is the two-time WSL World Champion, a member of the 2020 Olympic Team, and probably the most complete surfer on the planet. His high-flying acrobatics and otherworldly barrel-riding skills combined with the ultimate killer instinct make him a must-watch every time he paddles out. With so many memorable moments to choose from, this collection of clips just scratches the surface of Medina’s talent.”
