Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and Johanne Defay (FRA) have qualified through the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) to represent Brasil and France, respectively, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

By advancing to the Quarterfinals at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Weston-Webb and Defay are guaranteed to finish within the Top 8 of the WSL Rankings and have earned their provisional places to compete in Tokyo. 

“I am so excited to represent Brasil and be the first surfer qualified from Brasil,” said Weston-Webb. “It is a huge honor and I am at a loss for words. I’m so proud of representing Brasil, it’s my birthplace and it’s where my heart lies, taking nothing away from where I grew up which really made me the surfer than I am today. The Olympics was always a dream of mine when I was younger, but I knew it was not possible as a surfer. But now, because surfing is a part of the Olympics, I got the spot because I am in the Top 10 on the CT. I remember watching the Olympics with my mom and she would say, ‘Dream big honey because anything is possible,’ and now that is coming true.”

Photo: Poullenot/WSL