The US’s Carissa Moore became the first women's surfing Olympic gold medalist today.
The surfer from Hawaii, who is so revered in her state that they named a January day after her, took gold by beating Bianca Buitendag of South Africa with Japan’s Amuro Tsuzu taking bronze.
Moore posted a score of 14.93, which was 9.70 better than Buitendag's 8.46.
Carissa, 28, first learned to surf while studying at the Punahou School, the same establishment where former President Barack Obama and golfer Michelle Wie attended.
Punahou has had a long, storied presence at the Olympics, with alumni competing on the world’s largest athletic stage throughout its history. Legendary swimmer Warren Kealoha ’25 even represented the United States while still a student, taking home his first gold medal in 1920 – at just 16 – and then doing it again four years later at the Paris Olympics.
This summer, Punahou alumni once again will compete at the Games, this time in Tokyo. Three Punahou graduates – Carissa Moore ’10 (surfing), Erik Shoji ’08 (volleyball) and Shelby Baron ’12 (wheelchair tennis) are in Toyko ready to represent the United States and compete in their respective sports
Reigning Olympics champion surfer Carissa Moore shares something in common with former US President Barack Obama and golfer Michelle Wie: all three went to Punahou School. Moore graduated in 2010, Wie in 2007 and 44th President Obama in 1979
She took like a fish to the water and began surfing at the age of five sharing the same passion her father Chris showed.
He was also a top local swimmer, won major competitions in Waikiki and is a former lifeguard.
Her sister Cayla is also a professional surfer and the gold medal winner’s stated ambition was to reach Tokyo and compete.
She said: ‘My dad taught me how to surf when I was five years old at Waikiki beach and I was immediately hooked.
‘He loves the ocean and he wanted to share that passion with me.
‘By the time I was 12, we had a more serious conversation, saying, “is this something I really want to do?”
Winning recipe': Moore struck gold today, being the second alumnus to attend Punahou School and win a gold medal at the Olympics after Warren Kealoha in 1920 at the Paris Olympics
High in the sky: Moore celebrates winning the gold medal of the women's surfing competition at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan
‘I knew it was going to be a lot of hard work, but I also knew it would be really fun. The ocean is my happy place.’
She said she spends six months of the year travelling and competing, which she described as ‘living out of a suitcase, chasing waves and following my dream. ‘
She is the holder of three world titles in 2011, 2013 and 2015, and became the first woman to earn a wildcard entry in the men's Triple Crown of Surfing in 2011.
Her idols are US tennis player Serena Williams, and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.
Hawaiian for life: Before coming to Tokyo, Moore told the Waikiki crowd, a neighborhood in Honolulu, that her win wasn’t just about her, but about everyone who’d ever supported her or cheered her on. “I’m proud to represent the USA, but most of all Hawai‘i,” Moore said. “I’m so excited to go to the Olympics and share the spirit of aloha that Duke shared.”
In surfing she is a fan of female US surfers Melanie Bartels, Megan Abubo, Rochelle Ballard, Keala Kennelly, and Bethany Hamilton, and male US surfers Kelly Slater and Andy Irons.
She states her philosophy as : ’Winning a contest is great but the feeling is only temporary. To me, happiness and success
