Silver for surfer Jack Robinson will lay the platform for Australia’s surfers come the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, Aussie masterminds American gold

It’s not gold, but regardless Jack Robinson’s silver medal is huge for surfing in Australia and has the potential to set up the sport for the next eight years heading into a home Olympics, says the Surfing Australia CEO.

Australia's Jack Robinson performance in Tahiti can set up Australian surfing. Picture: Jerome Brouillet / AFP

Surfing Australia CEO Chris Mater says the funding and influence that comes on the back of Jack Robinson’s silver medal will lay the platform for what the country does at the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

Surfing’s presence at the Olympics opens the door for national bodies to have a share in funding that comes from the broadcast revenue.

Australia’s success also provides increased power to draw funding from governments at all levels and provides inspiration to the next generation who will compete in Brisbane.

Men’s surfing silver medallist Jack Robinson, French gold medallist Kauli Vaast and bronze medallist Brazil’s Gabriel Medina. Picture: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

“It will drive several things. We will have more participation, more kids wanting to be Jack Robinson and Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright,” Mater said.

“From what I have heard back home (in Australia) people have been glued to the television. (It can mean) only good things for surfing.

“Medals like this mean more investment in the sport which means a bright future.

“With 2032 on the horizon that makes it a nice little package. All the way from the young 13-year-old aspiring to grow through to the CT (Championship Tour) warriors we have now. This will be a great thing

“We had a target of one to two medal. To actually execute and deliver when you are at the table (with the Australian Institute of Sport) in a few months talking about if we did what we said we were going to do certainly helps.

“They are big in terms of funding for us and we are grateful for the support we have along with the Qld Academy of sport and NSW Institute of Sport.”

Surfing Australia high performance manager Kate Wilcomes said it would enable the organisation to execute its plans in 2025.

“We have an incredible amount of talent in Australia. Continuing to support the pathway from the young juniors to the CT and on to the Olympics,” Wilcomes said.

“We have some great strategies and excited to consolidate that for 2025 and to get ready for (the 2028) LA (Olympics).”

Brought to you by

Aussie coach masterminds American gold

An Australian has emerged as the mastermind behind Caroline Marks’ gold medal performance in the women’s surfing.

Former world tour competitor Luke Egan is the coach of the US athlete who won the Olympic final with a two-wave total of 10.50, edging out Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb (10.33) on Tuesday (AEST).

The duo first linked up six years ago when Egan coached Marks part-time alongside Mike Parsons before going full-time when the surfer returned to the world tour following a break in 2022.

Gold Coast surfing legend Luke Egan was overjoyed at Marks’ success. Picture: Supplied

They won the World Surf League’s Championship Tour together last year and now have a gold medal to go with it.

“It’s amazing. I’m speechless,” an emotional Egan said while going on to describe how Marks has elevated herself to a level where she has become the world’s best.

“She has this will to win. She is very vulnerable, she listens like you wouldn’t believe.

“She always tries out what opinions we have got. She is passionate about it and when that is put together with incredible talent then it is a recipe for a world title 2023, 2024 an (Olympic) gold medal.”

Marks is currently ranked second on the Championship Tour and is on track to defend her world title.

“It’s amazing to have Luke in my corner,” Marks said.

Caroline Marks with her gold medal in Teahupo’o. Picture: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

“(He has made a) massive impact. I’m really grateful to have him in my corner.

“He has got so much knowledge and obviously had a very successful career himself.

“He is still so gnarly at surfing so it is really fun to be around his energy. He is really good out here. “We looked at each other after and said this is working out. We have a world title (and now a) gold medal so we are pretty stoked. He is an amazing coach.”

Egan said he was a proud Australia, despite getting criticised online in the lead up to the event.

“I posted something with the American team and the keyboard warriors gave us a bit of slack so I did another post the other day and was like hey there is more Australians littered through every country here than any other country so be proud,” Egan said.

“I’m just a proud Aussie to do a good job.”