The Oi Rio Pro 2016 has hit Round 3. Matt Wilkinson is out of the event, and Gabriel Medina pleases the crowd at Postinho with a confident performance.
Deivid Silva just had one of the best days of his career. The Brazilian defeated Wilkinson in Round 2 with a breathtaking alley-oop and a beautiful air which earned him the ticket to the next phase.
"I am very very happy to get this far. The surfing in the match was so good. It is the people here in Brazil that make the win that much better. Thank you WSL for giving me the wildcard in this event. I am stoked," expressed Silva.
Medina was able to land the first ever backflip rotation in competitive pro surfing. The panel of judges awarded him a Perfect 10, and he is through to Round 3.
"I have been learning a lot, even when I am losing. Australia was pretty tough for me. Every event I am thinking positively. I know I need to take it one event at a time and if it did not come in Australia, then hopefully it will here, and if not here then the next one," added Gabriel.
The 2015 World Surf League champion, Adriano de Souza, didn't have a dream heat but found what he needed to keep chasing the title in home waters. The victim was Bino Lopes.
"Basically, I am just doing my thing, and my local knowledge helps here. For the last five years, I have been training here. I think I had an advantage from this perspective, but I am happy to continue in the event," concluded De Souza.
Oi Rio Pro 2016 | Round 3 Match-Ups
Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
John John Florence (HAW) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Nat Young (USA) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Stuart Kennedy (AUS) vs. Davey Cathels (AUS)
Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Lucas Silveira (BRA)
Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Marco Fernandez (BRA)
Kanoa Igarashi (USA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Jack Freestone (HAW)
Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)