<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li><div>Roy Calderon and Jimena Ruiz deliver first wins for Costa Rica</div></li><li><div>Team Spain earns Silver, Brazil Bronze, and Costa Rica Copper</div></li> <li><div>Seven new World Champions are crowned, nine previous World Champions increase individual gold medal totals</div></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;">Team USA acquired a trilogy of gold medals courtesy of <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/liv-stone" target="_blank">Liv Stone</a></strong>, <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/sarah-bettencourt" target="_blank">Sarah Bettencourt</a></strong> and <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/jose-martinez" target="_blank">Jose Martinez</a></strong>. The two women used a combination of clever heat strategy and solid surfing to back up their 2020 wins in Stand 1 and Prone 1 respectively, while Martinez pushed his teammate <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/jesse-billauer" target="_blank">Jesse Billauer</a></strong> to the bitter end in the last heat of the day, the Men’s Prone 2 final.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">“I’m always proud to be a veteran, but this is on the ultimate level,” said Martinez. “To represent my country for a new sport that’s coming out, that I see as absolutely epic and is going to be so meaningful for the rest of the world, not just for us. I am grateful and I am honored.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Four former champions find magic in the number three</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The number three was the order of the day for four returning champions who each claimed their third gold medal. Para Surfing pioneers <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/mark-stewart" target="_blank">Mark “Mono” Stewart</a></strong> (AUS) and <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/alcino-neto" target="_blank">Alcino “Pirata” Neto</a></strong> both saw themselves back on top, while <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/victoria-feige" target="_blank">Victoria Feige</a></strong> (CAN) and <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/melissa-reid" target="_blank">Melissa Reid</a></strong> (ENG) made it three in a row, as the first two women to win three gold medals in Para Surfing history. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The girls are all charging and I love to see that,” said Feige. “I think we’re going to keep raising the level of adaptive surfing.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Roy Calderon and Jimena Ruiz deliver first wins for Costa Rica</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Costa Rica achieved their first two Para Surfing gold medals, with both <strong>Roy Calderon</strong> and <strong>Jimena Ruiz</strong> improving on previous results to find success in Men’s Visually Impaired 2 and Women’s Stand 2 respectively. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“I worked three shifts and gave up all of my vacation time to pay for my travel,” Calderon said. “I’m so happy to win this for all of Costa Rica!”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Fresh faces find gold with dominant division victories</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two women found themselves wearing gold around their necks for the first time. In the Women’s Visually Impaired 1 final <strong>Marta Paço</strong> (POR) put early pressure on the rest of the field and didn’t let up on her way to a convincing win. A dynamic final defined <strong>Joyce Neumueller</strong>’s (AUS) victory in Women’s Prone 2, with the lead constantly changing before she posted an 8.00 and sealed the deal in her first appearance on the international stage. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Outstanding performances across multiple divisions raise the bar</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Leaving his best for last, <strong>Fellipe Kizu Lima</strong>, opened the Sit final with the highest single wave score of the event, a 9.83. With a backup of an 8.93, the Brazilian accumulated a total of 18.76 to deliver the highest heat score of the championship and beat his own previous record of the second highest total in Para Surfing history. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">It was team Israel who saw themselves victorious in Men’s Stand 2. The ever-exuberant <strong>Adi Klang</strong> kissed the sand as he clung to his nation’s flag, an impressive performance increasing his gold medal count. Klang’s teammate <strong>Nachman Balulu</strong> won his first silver medal. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Also going one and two for their country, defending champion of Men’s Stand 1, <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/mike-vaz" target="_blank">Mike Richards Vaz</a></strong> (BRA), collected his second gold medal over his teammate <strong>Jonathan Borba</strong> in silver, though Richards left it to the final moments to catch the wave that took him from fourth place to first. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Hansen retains record as Para Surfing’s most successful</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Men’s Prone 1 brought the drama as Hawaii’s <strong>Casey Proud</strong> came convincingly close to taking the win away from the undefeated <strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/riders/bruno-hansen" target="_blank">Bruno Hansen</a></strong> of Denmark. However, Hansen retained his record as the winningest participant in Para Surfing history, earning himself an unprecedented sixth gold medal. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sending his love around the world, Hansen said, “I’d like to dedicate this to all the teams that couldn’t make it to this event this year. This gold medal is for you guys.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The getting together of the top para surfers of the world at the ISA World Championship matters a lot. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Firstly, for the actual competitors and their families and friends at home. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Secondly for the thousands and thousands of para surfers around the world. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thirdly for the people with different abilities that today don’t surf for any reason. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And finally for the rest of the world as a way to remember that impossible is nothing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Para Surfing belongs in the Paralympic Games. Getting in is as difficult as getting in the Olympic Games. And I know something about this subject. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">But two days ago, the Executive Board of the IOC voted to include surfing as a permanent sport in the Olympics. So, getting in the Paralympic Games might be a bit easier now. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And last, but certainly not the least, I wanted to share my biggest hope: I hope that this event brings hope to the rest of the world. Making the world better through surfing and para surfing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thank you Pismo. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Peace, love and surf!!!”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Kneel</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Victoria Feige (CAN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Noemi Alvarez (CHI)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Audrey Pascaul (ESP)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Ana Barbara Garcia (MEX)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Kneel</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Mark Stewart (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Altair Olivares (CHI)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Llewelyn Williams (WAL)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Henrique Saraiva (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Visually Impaired 2</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Melissa Reid (ENG)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Sarah Jane Gibson (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Ling Pai (CAN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Celia Gramse (ESP)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Visually Impaired 2</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Roy Calderon (CRC)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Miguel Flavio (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Aaron Paulk (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Matt Formston (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Visually Impaired 1</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Marto Paço (POR)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Carmen Lopez (ESP)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Barbie Pacheco (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Visually Impaired 1</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Elias Figue Diel (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Kirk Watson (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Ben Neumann (GER)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Aitor Francesena (ESP)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Open Sit</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Fellipe Kizu Lima (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Ethan Kairer (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Juan Camacho (CRC)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Alana Nichols (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Stand 1</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Liv Stone (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Catalina Salamanca (CHI)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Darian Haynes (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Chikato Takao (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Stand 1</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Mike Richards Vaz (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Jonathan Borba (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Harrison Doi (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Camilo Abdula (POR)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Prone 1</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Sarah Bettencourt (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Claudia Palacios (CHI)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Minoshka Solis (CRC)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Katherine Beattie (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Prone 1</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Bruno Hansen (DEN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Casey Proud (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Nicolas Gallegos (ARG)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Miguel Rojas (CHI)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Stand 3</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Alcino Neto (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Colin Cook (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Dariel Melendez (CRC)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Martin Diaz Martinez (MEX)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Stand 2</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Jimena Ruiz (CRC)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Malu Mendes (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Maria Granizo (ESP)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Charlotte Banfield (ENG)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Stand 2</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Adi Klang (ISR)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Nachman Balulu (ISR)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Philippe Naud (FRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Baldir Vallejos (CRC)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Prone 2</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Joyce Neumueller (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Sarah Almargo (ESP)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Samantha Bloom (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Hannah Dines (ENG)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Prone 2</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold – Jose Martinez (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver – Jesse Billauer (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze – Claudio Morales (CHI)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper – Tomoki Fujiwara (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Teams</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Gold - USA</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Silver - Spain</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Bronze - Brazil</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Copper - Costa Rica</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Vs3rc0YgzZDYtMkGJmYna9_OBXke7srM-aVDATl180qZ0nmv6j6OW6nea-HXSbwYbi-XR24QsvVBvBJQ_WBLTyZx-dzjEl7DboFOr-mY4P31lC4KuHnSq9XiLz_v7-3dcC5RRBHTAf19f_ep6a9IqtPAGnQh3zc2&c=Qtlygbs850nMaLgowN3T36ehkEUfRecX6thJ5ptI5TdiRWhDnhEFIg==&ch=q5sxej3I11aK_Sv8ntTbuSGuU59p-LrE3S4hp_629UpaeiWuvCvtRg==" target="_blank">Photos and Video</a></div><div><span style="text-align: right;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span>Press Release Source: ISA / isasurf.org</span></div>