Team USA has taken five medals at the 2015 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, held in Oceanside, California. The Americans celebrated a maiden title with surfers in three out of four division podiums.
Wave riders from 36 countries battled for gold, silver, bronze, and copper medals. The last day of competition got underway in two-to-four-foot waves at Oceanside Pier.
Leonardo Fioravanti raised the Italian flag after winning the Boys Under 18 division. The young talent managed to land a spectacular air to get a Perfect 10 point score from the judges.
"I've been doing the ISA World Juniors for so many years and this year is my last. I told myself I have to go all in. The final had so many good surfers, so I had to go huge. I went for it and made it. I am so happy," said Fioravanti.
"It's huge for Italy! We're not a big surfing country. To bring this home for Italy, it's the biggest thing ever. I'm an Italian world champion; I'm so stoked!"
In the Girls Under 18 final, Tessa Thyssen took gold by less than one point. The French surfer defeated Tia Blanco, Frankie Harrer, and Mahina Maeda.
"This is so cool because it is my last year in the Under 18 division. I got a big push from my team. They are amazing. I am so happy to represent France. It was a really hard contest, so I am really stoked to win. I love my team, and I love Oceanside," added Thyssen.
Stevie Pittman and Summer Macedo conquered gold medals in the Boys Under 16 and Girls Under 16, respectively. Fernando Aguerre, the president of the International Surfing Association (ISA), was ecstatic with the event.
"With 36 countries and 322 surfers, not only did we make history, but we have made friends, progressed junior surfing and bonded as part of the international surfing community. Some of theses surfers now stand a solid chance to become the first ever Olympic Surfers in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games," concluded Aguerre.
2015 Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championship | Medals
Boys U-18
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Gold Medal
Nommé Mignot (FRA) Silver Medal
Jake Marshall (USA), Bronze Medal
Shun Murakami (JPN), Copper Medal
Girls U-18
Tessa Thyssen (FRA), Gold Medal
Tia Blanco (USA), Silver Medal
Frankie Harrer (USA), Bronze Medal
Mahina Maeda (HAW), Copper Medal
Boys U-16
Stevie Pittman (USA), Gold Medal
Reef Heazlewood (AUS), Silver Medal
Marco Mignot (FRA), Bronze Medal
John Mel (USA), Copper Medal
Girls U-16
Summer Macedo (HAW), Gold Medal
Macy Callaghan (AUS), Silver Medal
Brisa Hennessey (HAW), Bronze Medal
Teresa Bonvalot (POR), Copper Medal
Final Team Standings
1. USA
2. France
3. Hawaii
4. Australia
5. Japan
6. Portugal
7. South Africa
8. Costa Rica
9. Peru
10. Tahiti
11. Great Britain
12. Brazil
13. Barbados
14. Argentina
15. New Zealand
16. Mexico
17. Chile
18. Ecuador
19. Nicaragua
20. Puerto Rico
21. Belgium
22. Wales
23. Panama
24. Canada
25. Israel
26. Germany
27. Italy
28. Colombia
29. Norway
30. Russia
31. El Salvador
32. Denmark
33. Uruguay
34. Venezuela
35. Jamaica
35. Austria