Nerves, joy, and modest waves at surfing's Olympic debut
John John Florence, of the United States, and Australia's Owen Wright walk to the water prior to the men's surfing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (Olivier Morin/Pool Photo via AP)

John John Florence, of the United States, and Australia's Owen Wright walk to the water prior to the men's surfing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (Olivier Morin/Pool Photo via AP)

Jul. 25, 2021 02:32 AM EDT
Costa Rica's Leilani McGonagle maneuvers on a wave during the second round of the women's surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Costa Rica's Leilani McGonagle maneuvers on a wave during the second round of the women's surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Jul. 25, 2021 02:57 AM EDT
Israel's Anat Lelior maneuvers on a wave during the second round of the women's surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Israel's Anat Lelior maneuvers on a wave during the second round of the women's surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Jul. 25, 2021 02:58 AM EDT
Japan's Mahina Maeda maneuvers on a wave during the second round of the women's surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Japan's Mahina Maeda maneuvers on a wave during the second round of the women's surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Jul. 25, 2021 02:48 AM EDT
Brazil's Gabriel Medina prays before his heat during the first round of the men's surfing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (Olivier Morin/Pool Photo via AP)

Brazil's Gabriel Medina prays before his heat during the first round of the men's surfing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (Olivier Morin/Pool Photo via AP)

Jul. 25, 2021 02:52 AM EDT
Morocco's Ramzi Boukhiam rides a wave during the first round of the men's surfing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (Olivier Morin/Pool Photo via AP)

Morocco's Ramzi Boukhiam rides a wave during the first round of the men's surfing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (Olivier Morin/Pool Photo via AP)

Jul. 25, 2021 02:33 AM EDT
Israel's Anat Lelior maneuvers on a wave during the second round of the women's surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Israel's Anat Lelior maneuvers on a wave during the second round of the women's surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Jul. 25, 2021 02:55 AM EDT