Kelly Slater's comeback at Tahiti Pro 2026, defeating Gabriel Medina
Consensus Summary
Kelly Slater, a 54-year-old 11-time world champion and three-time world champion, made a stunning comeback at the Tahiti Pro, defeating Gabriel Medina, also a three-time world champion and two-time Tahiti Pro winner. Slater, who retired in 2024 and underwent hip surgery late last year, scored a near-perfect heat total of 19.06 out of 20, including a 9.73 out of 10 wave, to advance to the third round. The event took place at Teahupo'o, the 2024 Paris Olympics venue, where Slater previously lost to Medina in the 2014 final. Slater’s wildcard entry sparked controversy, but he used the criticism as motivation, proving his competitive edge. He will next face Jack Robinson in the third round, after Robinson advanced from a high-scoring heat. Slater’s performance, despite heavy swell and wipeouts, showcased his enduring skill and resilience.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Kelly Slater is 54 years old
- Kelly Slater is an 11-time world champion
- Kelly Slater is a three-time world champion (also mentioned in ABC)
- Kelly Slater won the Tahiti Pro five times before
- Kelly Slater scored a heat total of 19.06 out of 20
- Kelly Slater scored 9.73 out of 10 on one wave
- Kelly Slater faced Gabriel Medina in the Tahiti Pro
- Gabriel Medina is a three-time world champion
- The event took place at Teahupo'o, the 2024 Paris Olympics venue
- Kelly Slater retired from full-time competition in 2024
- Kelly Slater underwent hip surgery late last year
- Kelly Slater advanced to the third round of the Tahiti Pro
- Kelly Slater will face Jack Robinson in the third round
- Kelly Slater broke his board in heavy swell during the heat
- Kelly Slater beat Medina in a heat after Medina previously beat Slater in the 2014 final
- Kelly Slater received a wildcard to compete in the Tahiti Pro
- Kelly Slater was born six years after winning his first of 11 world titles
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Kelly Slater welcomed a third child earlier this year
- Kelly Slater dominated the first day of competition
- Kelly Slater was motivated by criticism of the wildcard decision
- Kelly Slater scored 19.6 out of 20 in the second round, the only man to better his performance
- Kelly Slater scored 9.73 out of 10 on a wave and followed it with another excellent score
- Kelly Slater’s board snapped in heavy swell during the heat
- Kelly Slater’s opponent, Griffin Colapinto, was born six years after Slater won his first world title
- Kelly Slater’s heat total was 19.06 out of 20, setting up a third-round meeting with Jack Robinson
- Callum Robson beat Jack Robinson in round two with a score of 18.20 to 17.40 (mentioned in Guardian but not explicitly tied to ABC’s phrasing)
- Kelly Slater tamed Teahupo’o in eight-to-10ft swell
- Kelly Slater scored 9.33 on another wave, totaling 19.06
- Kelly Slater’s 19.06 total fell short of his previous perfect 20 heat totals, which he produced twice before at Teahupo’o
- Kelly Slater posted a 19.77 in 2014 against John John Florence
- Kelly Slater’s opponent, Medina, is a two-time winner of the Tahiti Pro
- Kelly Slater mentioned breathing exercises and calming down before the heat
- Kelly Slater referenced Medina’s recent highs and lows and the emotional weight of losing to a non-title contender
- Kelly Slater’s sustainable apparel brand is the main sponsor of the Tahiti Pro in Tahiti
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- ABC states Slater retired in 2024, but Guardian does not mention a retirement year, only that he recovered from hip surgery late last year
- ABC mentions Slater’s heat total of 19.06 was set up by a 9.73 and another score, while Guardian lists 9.73 and 9.33 for the same total
- ABC states Slater’s opponent, Medina, beat him in the 2014 final, while Guardian mentions Medina won the 2014 final but does not specify if it was against Slater
- ABC mentions Slater’s wildcard was questioned by locals, while Guardian states the wildcard was given to Slater but does not specify local opposition
Source Articles
Slater still firing at 54 at Tahiti Pro, eliminating Medina
Kelly Slater may be retired from full-time surfing, but the GOAT shreds some big waves at the Tahiti Pro to beat Gabriel Medina - and his win sets up a showdown with an Aussie surfer.
Kelly Slater, 54, rolls back years with near-perfect surf in monster Tahiti swell
American scores 19.06 to beat Gabriel Medina at Tahiti Pro Eleven-time world champion tames Teahupo’o barrels 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. Slater, who is still regarded as one of the best barrel riders in t
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