Now that the radio silence imposed on all the athletes and their partners during the Olympic Games has been lifted, Joan Duru, talks us through his remarkable personal journey at the Paris Olympics.
His generosity and powerful surf style will live long in the memories of all the French supporters and the public. A native of Ondres, on France's surf capital Atlantic coast, he posted the best scores of the whole competition, only falling at the quarter-final stage to eventual Gold Medalist and French team-mate Kauli Vaast.
A memorable adventure
Joan emerged as the dark horse of these Olympics, posting the competition's best total score, once again showing that he's a man who rises to the big occasion. So, let's, in the company of our SIC Maui ambassador himself, relive his amazing Olympic adventure… Seems he's a long way from being ready to hang up his fins just yet.
Fifth place – and no regrets
« If someone had offered me the chance of 5th place at the Olympics at the start of the year, I would have jumped at it. It would have been great to end up with a medal for France and me. It was there as an aspiration, so in one way, it was a bit disappointing to finish so close to achieving that. »
But Joan has nothing to feel sorry for, coming away with memories that will last his lifetime:
« I surfed well. I left nothing out on the water. I gave it my very best shot. It's very simple: Kauli (Vaast) was stronger than I was. You had to find the tubes; Kauli is excellent at that and on this spot. Me too; I know what a great tube looks like, but the right wave didn't come my way at the end. »
Joan had made two trips to Tahiti before the event to train and surf the wave in different conditions. But also, to take in the feeling of the location and do some foiling.
« During the competition, I was never surprised; I knew the wave was like the back of my hand. I trained hard. It was an amazing experience. I'm happy with myself. From my first training sessions to the first qualifying rounds, all the way to my final series, there were incredible moments to enjoy and memorize. »
Golden team
« What Kauli and Joanne – French gold and bronze medallists – did was beautiful. Kauli and I trained together with the same coach, Jérémy (Flores). We ended up as top mates. But in an Olympic Games quarter-final, you don't expect any gifts. We were both full gas from start to finish! He was sorry to have beaten me. I was super happy for him. It was great that he won the final. It couldn't have been a more perfect ending. France was well represented. »
There was no official ranking by country, but France was the top nation in surfing in Paris in 2024.
« These are the first Olympic medals for France. A French surfer has never won the WCT title. The Olympics, with its 4-year cycle, is the same. I hope that this will make surfing a much bigger sport in France. That wave is genuinely the most beautiful wave in the world. It was so cool to host the Olympic surfing there. »
So far, so near…
True, the surfing took place thousands of kilometers from the Olympic Games in Paris, but there was no lack of engagement and support. Friends, family, Tahe Outdoors France staff, and the public followed every second of the heats, following every critical moment with the same intensity as they'd been on the spot. In Vannes, the site of the Tahe Outdoors France factory, the SIC Maui people organized live screenings and daily get-togethers to follow Joan's Olympic progress.
« When I was in the series against Kauli, there was an incredible atmosphere. There was a fan zone just in front of the beach. My whole family was there. It was brilliant to get their encouragement just before hitting the water. That support is always great, whether you end up happy or disappointed. »
« I have so many thank-yous to say, and I had incredible support. I could feel how many people were behind me: in Hossegor, in Seignosse, and especially in Vannes. That's another reason it was tough to come so close to a medal. I'd love to have brought one home to thank them all with. »
What next? Straight down the tube, as usual
Back home in Seignosse (France), Joan takes time to breathe deeply and relax after all the excitement.
« To be honest, I've been doing very little. I needed some downtime and to spend some time with my loved ones. I am quite tired. I have nothing planned for the time being. I'm still trying to take it all in and get ready for what's next. Whatever that may be, I'll do it on a surfboard for as long as possible. »
Joan's Olympics 2024 stats:
Official ranking: 5th
Number of heats: 3
Best wave score: 9.10
Best total score: 18.13
JOAN DURU - Recap of his path to the quarters
27th July – Round 1 – Making an entrance, Duru style!
Teahupo'o, Saturday 27th July, waves at 1m50/2meters, and a remarkable entry to the competition by Joan Duru. It was a heat largely dominated by Australian Jack Robinson, ranked 3rd worldwide and the Tahiti Pro 2022 winner.
But Joan Duru had none of it, turning the situation on its head as we know he could in the closing minutes. The French captain, for once, found a near-perfect wave, scoring him 7.67 points against the 7.21 he needed for victory, putting him through to the next round in 1st place, avoiding the repechages.
Duru's 13,84 points put him in front of Robinson (13,36 points) and far ahead of South African Mat McGillivray (5,26 points).
Results:
- J. Duru (France) : 13.84
- J. Robinson (Australia) : 13.36
- M. McGillivray (South Africa) : 5.26
29th July – Round of 16 – The best score of the whole competition
In magnificent 3-meter waves, Joan Duru gave a masterclass in his heat against the Mexican, Alan Cleland, posting the top score of the day, and eventually the whole competition, with 18.13, against Cleland's 15.17.
A constantly rising swell at the reef allowed Joan to show his scientific understanding of tube-riding. His first, very long tube, coming on his second wave, perfectly balanced on the foam ball, scored a massive 9.10 points, followed later by another long tube worth 9.03 points, sealing the win.
Cleland scored well (7 and 8.17 points), but Joan had taken the upper hand, qualifying for the quarters in brilliant style.
Results:
- J. Duru : 18.13
- A. Cleland Quinonez : 15.17
Quarter-Final World-Class Battle Against Kauli Vaast, Future Olympic Champion
Difficult conditions, 2-meter waves, and the wind cross/side-shore, Joan Duru launched an intense brotherly assault on team-mate Kauli Vaast, the young prodigy surfing the wave of all the local support that was all for the Tahitian.
A head-to-head between the biggest hitters in the competition, Joan and Kauli slugging it out, move by move, throughout the intense heat. After a couple of steady waves warm up, the Tahitian found a long tube and a great re-entry for 7.33 points. Following it up with an even better one, hyper-clean, 8 points.
There was some steady warm-up for Joan Duru, and then he focused on the biggest and best waves, nailing a tube with some cool moves on exit for 7.50 points. He needed at least 7.84 from his final ride to go through, but the wave never came, and the patient's wait was in vain.
Ultimately, the two Frenchies embraced, celebrating a tremendous and beautiful battle. Respect!
Results:
- K. Vaast : 15.33
- J. Duru : 12.33
The verdict
Renaud Lacoste – President of Tahe Outdoors France
« I remember the start of this year when we were talking with Joan about our partnership with such a talented, fully committed athlete who lives and dies for his sport, who never gives up and fights to the very last second of every series.
These Olympics in Tahiti have been a perfect illustration, where Joan has made the wave his property, exactly as he did learn his craft in the waves back home in the Landes.
I'm also « totally stoked » by our partnership with SIC Maui, working through all the preparation and hard-fought competitions that have resulted in a merited fifth place at the Olympics.
We're there for him and all his future adventures! #FurtherTogether! »
Casi Rynkowski – Brand Manager SIC Maui
« Joan Duru's remarkable performance at the 2024 Olympics is a testament to his dedication, skill, and passion for surfing.
Reaching the quarter-finals and securing 5th place among the world's best is an exceptional achievement.
SIC Maui is immensely proud of Joan, and his success in these Games will surely inspire the next generation of surfers.»
