Gabriel medina surf limp wrist shooting
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I am focused on recovering as quickly as I can and will return to competition as soon as I am able. The WSL, who reached out to Medina’s representative to enquire about his August commitments were compelled to give the injury wildcard spot to Tahitian Teiva Tairoa, the runner-up in the July 20 trial event.
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What Did Gabriel Medina Say About His Injury?
Though it seems clear that Medina’s stance on the injury wildcard invitation to Tahiti Pro was more moral stance than a cover-up for injury, Medina participating in the competition would have been tight considering after his January surgery, doctors gave him 4-6 months for recovery and a minimum of 6-8 months to compete again.
And, at the time of the surgery, it didn’t seem like Medina was rushing to get back into things.
And then John John Florence announced his own sabbatical from competitive surfing just over a week later.
Medina’s January injury was linked to a session in Brazil just before the 2025 season was set to kick off — a tear of his left pectoral muscle. A new video shared by Medina over the weekend shows the three-time world champ back in the water at Beyond the Club, Sao Paulo, a wave pool Medina invested in earlier this year.
“Very happy to be back surfing in my pool, with my friends and in São Paulo,” he wrote.
He doesn’t seem to be taking a casual rehab stroll in the pool, either.
He underwent surgery just two days later.
Gabriel Medina now has a singular focus: the comeback. Still, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Medina throw his name out there for an event wildcard toward the end of the season just to get a few heats under his belt in 2025 and warm himself back up to competition before next year.
Gabriel Medina’s Injury Shakes Up 2025 WSL Championship Start
As the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour kicks off, the surfing community is abuzz with news of three-time world champion Gabriel Medina’s withdrawal due to a pectoral injury.
Everything You Need to Know About His Injury
Gabriel Medina, the three time WSL world champion and star of that epic photo every surfing fan must have seen by now-where Medina, at last year’s Paris Olympics stood up above the water in perfect synchronicity with his surfboard, a moment captured forever by photographer Jérôme Brouillet and immortalized in the world of surfing–has not had the best follow up year.
“Everything went well and we are already looking at the recovery period and next steps,”Medina shared with his fans via his Instagram page. Medina shared his feelings about the situation, stating:
"I am very sad to have to pull out of the start of the 2025 season. Medina at the time said he would not accept a last-minute invite.
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So, later, when Alejo Muniz pulled out of the tournament on account of a shoulder injury and the WSL offered Medina a spot through an injury wildcard, the three-time world champion declined citing “previously scheduled commitments” as per the WSL’s press release.
As a three-time champion, his presence elevates the level of competition, and his withdrawal opens the door for other surfers to make their mark early in the season. There is no official listing of the champion, despite his seeming recovery after his January injury.
Further, based on everything Medina has said so far, vis-a-vis scheduling conflicts, it doesn’t look like this was what was on his schedule.
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Will Gabriel Medina Miss the Entire 2025 Season?
Having pulled out of some major surfing events such as the Hawaii Pipeline in January and early February, then the World Surf League in Abu Dhabi and the Rip Curl Pro Portugal events that began in March, it looks like Medina will, in fact, miss the whole 2025 season.
Had the WSL granted him those early Wildcards for the Tahiti Pro, then perhaps he would have had the time and preparation to train and ready himself for the same, but like many fans have pointed out, offering a three time world champ, who, at 31, is trying to make his comeback after a serious injury a last minute injury wildcard, is more than a little bit disrespectful.
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Perhaps Medina will be back in full form next year, but athletes are already running against time, and missing an entire year at 31 is not the best place to be for any reigning champion, especially in addition to his recent MCL injury in 2022.
The surfing world will be watching closely as the season unfolds, hoping for Medina’s swift return to the water.
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Is Gabriel Medina Competing at the US Open of Surfing? Their participation adds excitement to the event and highlights the depth of talent in the surfing community.Conclusion
As the 2025 WSL Championship begins, the absence of Gabriel Medina due to injury is a significant development.
The League lost one of its biggest names on the men’s Championship Tour with it being Kelly Slater’s first full year out of competition. Photo: Beatriz Ryder//World Surf League
Gabriel Medina’s withdrawal from the 2025 season (thus far) came more than four months ago now and with no timetable for a return.
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Ultimately, Media had to have emergency surgery for a torn pectoral muscle in his left shoulder.
Meanwhile, the competition will continue with new faces and rising stars eager to make their mark in Medina’s absence. Recovery for an injury like that can range, but with surgery it’s common for patients to need four to six months before they can return to regular activity. However, I am grateful to receive the wildcard for 2026 to allow the necessary time to heal."
Impact on the Championship
Medina’s absence will undoubtedly be felt in the competitive field.
But regardless of what happens to them, Medina has a spot waiting for him when next year’s CT roster is set. His focus on recovery and the granting of a wildcard for the next season reflect his commitment to the sport. His recent injury, sustained while surfing, required surgical intervention, leading to his withdrawal from the opening events of the WSL Championship Tour.