How it works and what you need to know

Here’s what you need to know about surfing at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

When did surfing become an Olympic sport?

The history of surfing dates back to the 12th century, but it has never been an Olympic sport until the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Although the waves outside Tokyo were rough and unpredictable and less than ideal, the athletes still entertained the fans with some breathtaking aerial feats. The Paris event will feature barrel riding in Tahiti’s Choupo.

How does Olympic surfing work?

The men’s and women’s competitions will each have six rounds. The first round will have eight heats, with three surfers per heat, lasting between 20 and 35 minutes depending on surfing conditions. They will then compete head-to-head until the semi-finals, where the winners will compete for gold and silver medals, and the losers for the bronze medal.

2024 Olympic Medals: Who is leading the medal count? Let’s track the medals in each sport to find out.