Kauli Vaast, a native of Tahiti, has made history by winning the Olympic gold medal in the men’s shortboard finals at the Paris 2024 surfing event, held at the legendary Teahupo’o. At just 22 years old, Vaast became the first French Olympic surf champion, defeating Australia’s Jack Robinson in an intense competition.
Vaast’s connection to Teahupo’o runs deep—he grew up in Mahina, just a stone’s throw away, and began surfing the formidable waves there when he was only four years old. His mastery of the wave has earned him the nickname “the King of Teahupo’o.”
This olympic victory is a significant milestone for French Polynesia, as Vaast becomes the first-ever French Polynesian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal for France. His triumph also boosts the host nation’s medal count to 13 golds.
Reflecting on his journey, Vaast told Olympics.com before the competition, “When I was a kid, I knew I wanted to do a lot of stuff on this wave. It was a dream for me. I always dreamed about doing a contest here, winning a contest there. It’s still in my mind, a dream. And I’m going to work for it.”
Back in Tahiti, celebrations erupted as Vaast’s victory was announced. His mother, Natou, shared with local media that she usually avoids watching her son compete due to the stress, but when he’s surfing in Tahiti, she finds comfort in tending to her garden, waiting for the neighbors’ cheers to signal his success.
