TOKYO (AP) — Brazilian men and American women are leading the final day of competition in surfing, which is making its Olympic debut.
Following the quarterfinals, Brazilians Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira will face off against hometown hero Kanoa Igarashi of Japan and Australian Owen Wright respectively.
In the women’s game champion Carissa Moore of the U.S. and Japan’s Amuro Tsuzuki will face off in the semifinals. The young American phenom Caroline Marks will go up against Bianca Buitendag of South Africa.
Moore seems to have finally found her footing after struggling the first two days to find momentum in a modest beach break that’s unlike the big waves back home in Hawaii.
She predicted yesterday that her teammate Marks, who grew up in Florida would be the woman to beat.
The finals will be held later Tuesday, weather permitting.