The Private Sport Shop ambassador is now sure to take part in the competition which will take place on the spot of Teahupoo in Tahiti.
It was a matter of time, and there was little suspense that Johanne Defay would be qualified for the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024. But we had to wait for the official announcement to open the champagne for the Private Sport Shop ambassador. It is now done, she will be there on the spot of Teahupoo to try to climb on the podium and even to go for the best title of her career, at home.
Despite her injury, which prevented her from taking part in the opening rounds of the World Championship, Johanne was in an excellent position to qualify for the Olympic Games. As the only French representative on the World Tour, she only needed to validate her participation in the Bells Beach event to officially qualify for the Olympic Games. This was achieved when she returned from injury to compete in the World Championships. The International Surfing Association issued a press release on Tuesday stating that Johanne would be competing in her second Olympics after Tokyo 2021.
Besides the Frenchwoman, the Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb and the Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy are also qualified for the Olympics as well as the Portuguese Teresa Bonvalot. As for the Australians and Americans (who represent a large part of the best surfers in the world), they will have to fight hard to get the two tickets per nation that will be granted to them.
While waiting to see her in the water at the Margaret River Pro, Johanne Defay is back below in the second episode of his new web-series who is looking back on his ordeal after returning from injury in Bells Beach.