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> News > Jeremy Flores has provisionally qualified for surfing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games!

surfing News

Jeremy Flores has provisionally qualified for surfing in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games!

Jeremy Flores (FRA), June 2018. Image credit: / WSL/Kelly Cestari

20 October 2019

Jeremy Flores (FRA) has qualified through the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) to represent France at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Following Joan Duru's (FRA) elimination in 17th place at the Meo Rip Curl Portugal, Flores is guaranteed to finish as one of the top two Frenchmen on the WSL Rankings and has earned his provisional place to compete in Tokyo.

“What a nice surprise to learn about this news,” said Flores. “I lost my heat today and obviously now I just got the news that I’ve provisionally qualified for the Olympics. I’ve always been a big fan of the Olympic Games and watching my country and fellow countrymen do well in every sport. I am really proud to represent France and this is going to be a cool experience. Every time I get to represent France I have a whole country behind me, supporting me, and I represent all the future generations too. I give them hope and I am hoping that they do the same, too.”

Flores, 31, joined the elite ranks in 2007 and is revered as the most successful European pro surfer of all time. He grew up on Reunion Island but moved to France as a young teen to pursue his pro surfing dream.

His four Championship Tour victories include a pair of Pipe Masters (2010, 2017), the Billabong Pro Teahupo’o (2015), and most recently the Quiksilver Pro France (2019). Flores’ accolades illustrate his incredible tube-riding and ability to excel in waves of consequence. Flores has paved the way for up-and-coming surfers in Europe, such as Johanne Defay, who he sponsored to help her pursue her dream as a professional surfer on the elite Championship Tour and now who will potentially join him on Team France in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Surfing will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2020 and the 2019 WSL CT, the elite year-long tour that crowns the World Champions each season, will be an important qualification pathway for the world's best surfers.

To find out more download the WSL App, check out the WSL Rankings and follow Flores at @floresjeremy.

Following the final CT events of 2019 (the Hawaii Pro from November 25 to December 6, 2019 and the Billabong Pipe Masters from December 8 to 20, 2019), the WSL rankings will determine the first 18 eligible Olympic qualifiers (10 men and 8 women), subject to all qualified surfers meeting the ISA’s and IOC’s eligibility requirements and being selected by their respective National Olympic Committee.

There is a maximum of two men and two women for each country that can qualify for the 2020 Games so this year’s CT sees surfers not only battle for the World Title and requalification for the tour but also to finish as one of the top two ranked surfers from their nation.

The remaining 22 places are being determined through the 2019 and 2020 ISA World Surfing Games, the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, and a single slot (each for men and women) for the host nation, Japan.

Provisional Olympic selection based on the current WSL Rankings:

USA - Kolohe Andino, John John Florence, Carissa Moore, Lakey Peterson
Australia - Owen Wright, Julian Wilson, Sally Fitzgibbons, Stephanie Gilmore
Brasil - Gabriel Medina, Filipe Toledo, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Silvana Lima
Japan - Kanoa Igarashi
South Africa - Jordy Smith
France - Michel Bourez, Jeremy Flores, Johanne Defay
Costa Rica - Brisa Hennessy

The world’s best surfers are currently in Europe for the penultimate stop on the 2019 CT, the Men's and Women's MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, which holds a competitive window from October 16 - 28.

Both events will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL App and Facebook.com/WSL. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners around the world.