- 2016-06-17
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SPORTS
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World Surf League: Fiji Pro, Gabriel Medina takes his first victory in this season
The Fiji Pro ran Quarterfinal, Semifinal and Final in solid 10-to-12 foot (3 - 3.5 metre) surf at Cloudbreak on June 17.
2014 WSL Champion and former event winner Gabriel Medina (BRA) took the first victory in this season.
Medina defeated current Jeep Rankings’ Leader Matt Wilkinson (AUS) with 15.60 in Final, after he eliminated 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and reigning WSL Champion Adriano de Souza (BRA) in Semifinal and Quarterfinal.
Matt Wilkinson battled John John Florence (HAVE) in Quarter Final, and competed against Adrian Buchan (AUS) in Semifinal. Their scores were close, but finally, Matt Wilkinson defeated them.
Kelly Slater tried to take the victory in this event since 2012, but he was unable to win by Gabriel Medina in Semifinal.
Today's result marks Gabriel Medina moves up to 2nd place on the Jeep Leaderboard.
After the Final, Gabriel Medina said,
“It feels amazing and I am so stoked. I just want to thank God and my family. That was a crazy week. We have been waiting for these waves and they finally came through. They were big and we got so many sets on the head. We got a lot of barrels and it was a sick event. I am just so happy. I am really tired right now, but I was saving my energy for the Final because I knew it would be tough,” continued Medina. “Wilko (Matt Wilkinson) has been surfing amazing since the first event and I do not know who can stop this guy. This is his third final of the year and I am really happy to make this final against him."
Matt Wilkinson said,
"I am really stoked with second. If I came here knowing I would get a second, I would have been absolutely frothing. That Final was just so tough. It was disappointing not to get a big barrel when there were some to be had out there, but I just had twenty sets on the head and one barrel that I got caught in. Gabriel (Medina) was unbelievable out there. It is halfway through the year and I could not have dreamed of a better start. Everyone is obviously going to be coming for me, so it is definitely not time to let off on the accelerator. I am going to go into J-Bay as focused and ready as I can."
Fiji Pro Final Results:- Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.60 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 6.34
Fiji Pro Semifinal Results:- Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.67 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 12.03
- Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.33 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.00
Fiji Pro Quarterfinal Results:- Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.86 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8.83
- Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.70 def. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 9.40
- Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.60 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.40
- Heat 4: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.63 def. John John Florence (HAW) 10.93
- source : WSL
