This year is a monumental year for surfing. Around 5 years ago, the International Olympic Committee voted to include surfing as a new sport at Tokyo 2020, and after being postponed one year due to the pandemic, surfing is finally set to make its long-awaited debut in 2021, in Tokyo, between 25 July and 1 August!

This year’s shortboard line-up already includes an eclectic selection of world champions and tour veterans, rookie pros who have come back for more, and new faces that have climbed their way to the top just in time. That said, there are still 7 spots up for grabs for the women, and 5 for the men, all depending on the results of this week’s ISA World Surfing Games, 29 May – 6 June, in El Salvador.

So how does the qualifying work? Which women are taking part? How can I watch the World Surfing Games heats live? Keep reading to find out!

According to the International Surf Association (ISA), the Olympics athletes qualify according to competitions spread across 2019 and 2021:

• 2019 World Surf League Championship Tour (WSL CT): First 10 eligible men and first 8 eligible women
• 2021 ISA World Surfing Games: First 4 eligible men and first 6 eligible women
• 2019 ISA World Surfing Games: 4 men and 4 women selected based on their continent. Top finishing eligible surfer of each gender from Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania
• 2019 Pan American Games: First eligible man and first eligible woman in the surfing competition
• Host nation slot: One man and one woman for the host nation of Japan, unless already filled through the above hierarchies

As you can see above, all other competitions have already taken place, meaning that the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games is the final selection phase. Although there were originally 4 spots for men and 6 for women, this has been increased to 5 for men and 7 for women, making it all the more exciting!

A record for female participation 

Right now 257 surfers are getting ready to compete this weekend in their National Surfing Teams. This year sees 122 women participating, making up 47% of the total group, which shows an increase since 2019, when 103 women competed at 42% of the group.

The ISA puts this growth in women’s participation down to their continued commitment to promoting gender equality, via initiatives like equal opportunity in competition, a Scholarship Program for U-18 surfers, and free judging development programmes just for women. 

Who has already provisionally qualified?

There are already 13 women who have pre-qualified for Tokyo 2021:

• Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
• Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
• Johanne Defay (FRA)
• Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
• Silvana Lima (BRA)
• Carissa Moore (USA)
• Caroline Marks (USA)
• Brisa Hennessy (CRC)
• Shino Matsuda (JPN)
• Anat Lelior (ISR)
• Bianca Buitendag (RSA)
• Ella Williams (NZL)
• Daniella Rosas (PER)

Get to know some of the female athletes competing against all odds

If you’d like to get to know some of the women competing, you can tune in to the ISA’s weekly interviews with both men and women athletes.

Some of our favourites so far have been with Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich, who will return to defend her 2019 Title earned in Miyazaki, Japan. Sofia Mulanovich, who is 37 years old, earned her first Gold Medal at the 2004 edition of the event, returned 15 years later in 2019 to add her second individual World Surfing Games Gold Medal. She also recently became a mother to son Theo, who was born last May 2020. She welcomed him in a post as “Definitivamente mi mejor ola ” (“Definitively my best wave!)

Another great one to watch is the story of Israel’s 20-year old athlete Anat Lelior, who has the great support of her family. Anat is queen of organisation, having balanced both her fulltime obligatory military service from 7am-5pm everyday with her surf training, as well as being one of the only girls in the lineup.

Nicaragua’s National team will also feature three sisters competing for their nation: Valentina, Candelaria, and Maxima Resano. The eldest sister Valentina is just 17 years old, however between the three siblings they already have a wealth of experience at ISA Global Events, both in the World Surfing Games and VISSLA World Junior Surfing Championship.

Where can I see the results of the World Surfing Games?

We’ll be reporting on the games as they happen and the next athletes qualify, so watch this space on our social media channels Facebook and Instagram!

The event will also stream live daily on the ISA’s Facebook page and on the Olympics website.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that kiteboarding will make its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, so we’ll keep you up to date on that front, too!