Gabriel Medina gives up the start of the WSL to take care of his mental health

Three-time surfing world champion Gabriel Medina, 28, has decided not to travel to Hawaii, where the first two stages of the 2022 WSL (World Surf League) season will take place starting on Saturday (29).

In a note sent by his press office this Monday (24), Medina said that the decision aims to preserve his physical and mental health and was one of the most difficult he has ever taken.

“As much as I want to be in the water surfing and competing, I’m not physically and emotionally up to it. And acknowledging that I’ve reached the limit has been a tough process. Late last year, I injured my hip. Since then, I was doing physiotherapy, I took the vaccine and I’ve been taking care of myself to be well for this year. However, I’m still not 100%”, he said.

“In addition to the body comes the mind, which is also not in the best phase. I come from exhausting months. And I need to look at myself right now and take care of myself. For those who are not well, making a decision like this is not easy”, he added. .

Medina’s name was already included in the drawn keys of the opening event. Without the defending champion, the world circuit will start in the traditional Pipeline wave. Soon after, starting on February 11, there will be the second stage at Sunset Beach. The third stop will be in Peniche (Portugal), starting on March 13th.

After five events, there will be a cut in the number of participants, and only 22 of the 34 fixed competitors will remain in the elite until the tenth stage in August. After that, the top five will play in the final in Lower Trestles, Calif., in September.

The three-time champion did not set a date to return to compete. “Physical health is very important, but mental health is just as important. There’s no way to be 100% if one is not aligned with the other. I’m already treating myself, really taking care of myself, and I’m going to prioritize my health in this I’m committed and focused to come back well and meet you guys as soon as I’m ready.”

Erik Logan, CEO of the World Surf League, says the circuit will miss Medina and supported the surfer’s decision.

“The health and safety of our athletes is of the utmost importance to us and we fully support Gabriel’s decision to prioritize their well-being. Our wish is for the best surfers in the world to start the season for our fans, but we certainly respect his Obviously, we’ll miss our current world champion at the Billabong Pro Pipeline, but we’ll be here ready to welcome him back when he’s feeling better.”

The topic of mental health has gained increasing prominence in sport. Last year, American gymnast Simone Biles, the biggest star of the Tokyo Olympics, gave up competing in most events during the Games to preserve her body and mind. The case had huge repercussions.

Medina also spoke about her moment in an Instagram post and cited a “roller coaster of emotions in and out of the water”.

In 2021, the Brazilian had an outstanding performance in the WSL and reached his third world title. Also a winner in 2014 and 2018, he entered a restricted group of three-time champions and was second only to North American Kelly Slater, who has 11 titles, and Australian Mark Richards, five-time champion.

But in the last year, the São Paulo native was also involved in so many controversies that his exceptional performance at sea was left in the background.

The championship was the first that the athlete from São Sebastião played away from Charles Saldanha, the stepfather he always called his father. The marriage to model Yasmin Brunet was not well received by the surfer’s family, and the then two-time champion decided to exchange Charles’ constant presence for the advice of renowned Australian coach Andy King.

Medina was accumulating finals and building a huge advantage in the leadership of the circuit, but his high grades lost space in the news to his fight with the COB (Olympic Committee of Brazil).

Due to restrictions linked to the new coronavirus pandemic, it was agreed that each surfer could only take one person to the Tokyo Olympic Games. Gabriel put his foot down in an attempt to get Yasmin to be his escort, but he had to travel without his wife after an exhausting negotiation in which he was defeated.

In Japan, the Brazilian got great waves and advanced to the semifinals of the first Olympic surfing tournament in history, but was defeated by Japanese Kanoa Igarashi. In the race for bronze, he lost again. And, while Italo Ferreira celebrated the gold, Medina and, especially, Yasmin raged for disagreeing with the scores applied by the judges.

After the Games, a new controversy. Medina announced that he would not compete in the Tahiti stage of the World Cup because he had not been vaccinated against Covid-19, which prevented his trip. Criticized for choosing not to immunize himself, the Brazilian ended up not missing the event because it didn’t happen: like others in the season, it was canceled for reasons linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

Later, the athlete acknowledged that he was wrong, defended vaccination in a message on social networks and said he would seek to immunize himself. Something he reaffirmed that he had done in this Monday’s note.

See the note released by Gabriel Medina’s press office

Out of respect for the press and my fans, who have always supported me, I need to be honest with you. This was a difficult decision, I believe one of the hardest I’ve ever made. I will be absent from the first stages of 2022. As much as I want to be in the water surfing and competing, I’m not physically and emotionally up for it. And acknowledging that I’ve reached the limit has been a tough process. Late last year, I injured my hip. Since then, I was doing physical therapy, I took the vaccine and I’ve been taking care of myself to be well for this year. However, I’m still not 100%. Added to the body comes the mind, which is also not in the best phase. I come from exhausting months. And I need to look at myself right now and take care of myself. For those who are not well, making a decision like this is not easy. I asked myself a thousand times if I should expose myself or not. If I would just communicate that I wouldn’t compete through a more formal official note…But I don’t think it’s fair. And because I have no reason to hide either. Physical health is very important, but mental health is just as important. There is no way to be 100% if one is not aligned with the other. I’m already treating myself, really taking care of myself, and I’m going to prioritize my health right now. I’m committed and focused to come back well and meet you guys as soon as I’m ready. From now on, I would like to thank the attention, understanding and affection of my fans, the press and the respect of my sponsors. Thanks hugs. Gabriel Medina.