Faro-born surfer Yolanda Hopkins will face Brisa Hennessy in the third round
Portuguese surfer Yolanda Hopkins qualified for the last 16 of the women’s surfing event at the 2024 Olympic Games, beating New Zealand’s Saffi Vette in Tahiti, French Polynesia.
“It was a heat with few opportunities. I ended up winning with strategy and not just on the strength of my surfing. I hope we get better waves because I want to put on more of a show in the next heat,” the Algarve surfer, born in Faro, said after the event.
Hopkins, who finished fifth in her Olympic surfing debut in Tokyo in 2021 and is a two-time European champion, topped the second round with a modest 4.67 points (3.67 and one), but enough to Vette, whose final score was 1.27 (0.67 and 0.60).
After falling in a play-off against South Africa’s Sarah Baum and the USA’s Caroline Marks on Saturday, the 26-year-old from the Algarve made it through to the third round on Sunday, scheduled for 3am (Lisbon time) on Tuesday, against Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy.
Portugal’s other participating surfer, Teresa Bonvalot, was knocked out of the competition by Japan’s Shino Matsuda in a play-off.
The Cascais-born surfer practically led the first heat, but a tube took Matsuda into the lead with 9.77 points (7.67 and 2.1).
“The event is over for me,” Bonvalot lamented. “I tried to carry the Portuguese flag high in conditions we’re not so familiar with, but I have to be gentler with myself and look on the bright side. Being here and being part of these Olympics through my efforts is something I won’t forget. But I’m even more keen to qualify for the next Games. For me and all the Portuguese,” she said.
João Aranha, president of the Portuguese Surfing Federation, praised the Portuguese surfers’ performance and expressed his confidence in Yolanda Hopkins’ future at the Olympics.
“We’re going through historic moments in these Olympic Games, with Teresa and Yolanda representing our country and our surfing with courage. This wave at Teahupo’o is unique and requires a lot of courage, skill and some luck. Teresa didn’t have luck on her side, but we can only thank her for her commitment and hard work. She lacked that bit of luck. Fortunately, Yolanda made it through this round and is still in the race, thanks to her competitive intelligence and great attitude. Now we’ll all be rooting for her, knowing that she has the quality to compete with the best,” he said.
Source: LUSA
