ICHINOMIYA, Japan (AP) — A series of underdogs stole the show at the beginning of surfing's historic Olympic debut but two of the sport's most seasoned superstars took home the gold medals.
Carissa Moore of the United States and Italo Ferreira of Brazil became the first Olympic surfing champions more than a century after the sport first tried to get on the program.
The 28-year-old Moore is the darling child prodigy who could beat the boys and grew up to be the youngest world champion surfer. She says it's been "a little bit of a rollercoaster of emotions just trying to figure out the break, find my rhythm, learning how to trust myself without my family here."