Kelly Slater will compete at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games
USA Surfing unveiled the names of the athletes that will compete at the first event to directly qualify surfers for Tokyo 2020.
Kelly Slater, Kolohe Andino, Conner Coffin, Carissa Moore, Courtney Conlogue, and Caroline Marks will represent the United States in the upcoming 2019 World Surfing Games (WSG).
The national governing body for surfing in the United States based its selection on the World Surf League (WSL) rankings after the event in Margaret River.
According to the qualifying system, the top three ranked surfers for each country are invited to compete at the 2019 WSG, in Miyazaki, Japan, from September 7-15.
John John Florence's injury opened the way for 11-time world champion Kelly Slater to join Team USA.
The International Surfing Association (ISA) organizes and runs the World Surfing Games since 1964.
No Direct Qualification
However, the event will not directly American surfers for Tokyo 2020.
The continent's qualification slots were determined at the 2019 Pan American Games, held in Lima, in early August.
As a result, the 2019 World Surfing Games will only award eight golden tickets for the eight top finishing surfers (four men, and four women) from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
The remaining Olympic slots will be determined via 2019 WSL rankings (top 10 eligible men and eight eligible women) and 2020 World Surfing Games (top four highest placed eligible male athletes and six highest placed eligible female athletes).