Kelly Slater, 54, rolls back years with near-perfect surf in monster Tahiti swell
At 54, surfing legend Kelly Slater delivered a near-perfect performance at the Tahiti Pro, defeating three-time world champion Gabriel Medina. Despite recent hip surgery, Slater demonstrated his enduring mastery of the sport in challenging conditions.
Why it matters
Slater's performance highlights the longevity of elite athletes and remains a significant cultural moment in professional surfing.
Eleven-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater emerges from a barrel during a surfing masterclass at the Tahiti Pro in French Polynesia. Photograph: Matt Dunbar/World Surf League Eleven-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater emerges from a barrel during a surfing masterclass at the Tahiti Pro in French Polynesia. Photograph: Matt Dunbar/World Surf League Surfing Kelly Slater, 54, rolls back years with near-perfect surf in monster Tahiti swell American scores 19.06 to beat Medina at Tahiti Pro
Eleven-time world champion tames Teahupo’o barrels
Prefer the Guardian on Google Even at the grand old age of 54, the evergreen Kelly Slater’s mastery of surfing appears to know no bounds. Having been handed a wildcard for the Tahiti Pro, the American delivered yet another masterclass as he tamed Teahupo’o, one of the world’s heaviest waves, to knock out Gabriel Medina with a near-perfect heat score.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in