Gabriel Medina receives stitches in his head after accident in training for the WSL stage in Tahiti
Gabriel Medina suffered a cut on his head during a preparatory training session for the Teahupoo stage, in Tahiti, the seventh of the World Surfing League (WSL) season. The competition, which takes place between August 8th and 18th, will have its first call on August 8th, 2026, starting at 2pm Brasília time.
Despite the need for stitches at the site of the injury, the incident should not compromise the Brazilian surfer’s participation in the tournament. Falls resulting in injury are a known risk in Teahupoo’s powerful waves, which form into intense tubes and break over a shallow coral bench. However, the three-time world champion will have additional time to recover, as his debut is only scheduled for the 13th heat of Round 2.
Medina’s next opponent will be the winner of the clash between Hawaiian Eli Hanneman and veteran Kelly Slater, eleven-time world champion, who competes as a guest at 54 years old. Slater holds the record of five titles at the Teahupoo stage, while Gabriel Medina has two previous victories at the venue and is considered one of the big favorites.
The Teahupoo stage is scheduled to take place from August 8th to 18th. The WSL world rankings are currently led by Italian Leonardo Fioravanti. Right behind him, Brazil has a strong presence with five athletes in the top six: Italo Ferreira (2nd), Yago Dora (3rd), Gabriel Medina (4th), Miguel Pupo (5th) and Samuel Pupo (6th). In total, ten Brazilian surfers will participate in this phase of the competition.
Features of Teahupoo’s challenging waves
The waves that characterize the seventh stage of the WSL originate in the depths of an abyssal trench, then break over sharp and potentially poisonous corals. The sudden variation in depth, which goes from 1,400 meters to just 0.5 meters in a short space, is responsible for the formation of unique waves, with square tubes and of great intensity.
The volcanic French Polynesian island is surrounded by coral, which gives the water its crystalline characteristic and turquoise blue hue. This geographical particularity prevents the waves from losing significant energy before reaching the coral reef, resulting in their power and dangerousness.
In 2023, Gabriel Medina described the local dynamics: “The wave at Teahupoo is deep and dangerous. Usually, whoever takes the deepest tube and stays the longest wins. The tubes will be the main factor.”
Details of batteries in Tahiti
- Masculine
- Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) x Oscar Berry (AUS)
- Luke Thompson (AFS) vs Matthew McGillivray (AFS)
- Seth Moniz (HAV) x Eimeo Czermak (TAI)
- Eli Hanneman (HAV) x Kelly Slater (USA)
- Round 2
- Kauli Vaast (FRA) x Crosby Colapinto (USA)
- Samuel Pupo (BRA) x Alan Cleland (MEX)
- Yago Dora (BRA) x winner of heat 3 of round 1
- Marco Mignot (FRA) x Barron Mamiya (HAV)
- Filipe Toledo (BRA) x Connor O’Leary (JAP)
- Liam O’Brien (AUS) x Jake Marshall (USA)
- Ethan Ewing (AUS) x Joel Vaughan (AUS)
- Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) x winner of heat 1 of round 1
- Morgan Cibilic (AUS) x João Chianca (BRA)
- Kanoa Igarashi (JAP) x Alejo Muniz (BRA)
- George Pittar (AUS) x Cole Houshmand (USA)
- Gabriel Medina (BRA) x winner of heat 4 of round 1
- Jack Robinson (AUS) x Callum Robson (AUS)
- Griffin Colapinto (USA) x Rio Waida (IND)
- Miguel Pupo (BRA) x Mateus Herdy (BRA)
- Feminine
- Round 1
- Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) x Anat Lelior (ISR)
- Tya Zebrowski (FRA) x Erin Brooks (CAN)
- Isabella Nichols (AUS) x Vahine Fierro (FRA)
- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) x Yolanda Hopkins (POR)
- Alyssa Spencer (USA) x Bella Kenworthy (USA)
- Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAV) x Brisa Hennessy (CRC)
- Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) x Francisca Veselko (POR)
- Tyler Wright (AUS) x Kelia Gallina (TAI)
- Round 2
- Carissa Moore (HAV) x winner of heat 2 of round 1
- Molly Picklum (AUS) x round 1 heat 5 winner
- Sawyer Lindblad (USA) x winner of heat 3 of round 1
- Lakey Peterson (USA) x winner of heat 7 of round 1
- Gabriela Bryan (HAV) x winner of heat 1 of round 1
- Caroline Marks (USA) x winner of heat 8 of round 1
- Luana Silva (BRA) x winner of heat 4 of round 1
- Caitlin Simmers (USA) x winner of heat 6 of round 1
