Gabriel Medina’s intentional interference: Genius or a disgrace?

The World Surf League’s title race exploded in unbelievable scenes in Hawaii as a championship contender produced a ruthless move.

The surf gods — and Italo Ferreira — intervened to deny Gabriel Medina a third world title in a sinister and thrilling conclusion to the World Surf League season in Hawaii on Friday.

Ferreira claimed his first championship after defeating Medina in the final of the Pipe Masters after Medina had enhanced his reputation as surfing’s most ruthless competitor with a calculated drop-in earlier in the day.

In a move that was hailed as genius but also called his sportsmanship into question, the 25-year-old intentionally blocked fellow Brazilian surfer Caio Ibelli from catching a wave to win his round of 16 heat.

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The 25-year-old was leading a low-scoring heat when Ibelli attempted to catch a wave and steal the win with about 30 seconds remaining.

Medina paddled in front of him to stop him from taking off and was penalised for interference, but admitted he’d done it on purpose.

His penalty — losing his second highest score (2.07) — was inconsequential because his highest score (4.23) was still better than Ibelli’s two-wave total (1.13). Blocking Ibelli was against the rules, but guaranteed victory.

“I knew if I had an interference I was going to count my big wave,” Medina said.

“If it’s in the rules, you’ve got to play the game. I’m stoked to make it through.

“In my head, I knew what I was doing … as I said, it’s in the rules.”

Medina dropped in on Ibelli to keep him from having any chance at getting the score he needed. Even with an interference, Medina will advance into the Quarters. “This might have been one of the cleverest tactical maneuvers we’ve ever seen in the history of the sport”#pipemaster pic.twitter.com/atLHtyXp00

— FUEL TV (@FUELTV) December 19, 2019

Ibelli said he first became aware of the cunning plan when he heard Medina’s stepdad, Charlie, yelling instructions from the beach. “Now you can burn him, now you can burn him,” Charlie said. Medina was pictured responding with a thumbs up.

“It would have been my best wave if he hadn’t burned me,” Ibelli said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that but it shows what kind of competitor he is. He plays tough but dirty. He’ll do anything to win and I think that’s the mindset of a champion.

“I asked him ‘what the heck was that?’ and he said ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’. It just makes me want to win more and get him next time.”

The surfing world was stunned by the controversy. Fellow competitor Billy Kemper hailed Medina’s calculation under pressure, but others weren’t as impressed.

“This is outrageous,” commentator Ronnie Blakey said.

“I don’t know what to say, I’m absolutely baffled,” co-commentator Barton Lynch added. “Did he mathematically know he could win it and take it out of the control of Caio by dropping in? This might be one of the cleverest tactical manoeuvres we’ve ever seen in the history of the sport.”

Dude, you can argue that it's tactics but it is also absolutley a dick move on Medina's part.

— Hemal Jhaveri (@hemjhaveri) December 19, 2019

Quite clear that Charlie knew the math and gave Gabriel the signal that in the event a wave came to Caio, Gabby could block him and still advance. Gangster AF #BillabongPipeMasters

— ALEKESAM (@SalMasekela) December 19, 2019

In the end the controversy didn’t create an asterisk next to the name of surfing’s 2019 world champion.

Ferreira held his nerve all day at the top of the draw, winning his quarterfinal against Yago Dora and a semi against Kelly Slater to progress to the final.

Medina didn’t blink either, knocking out Hawaiian star John John Florence in the quarters and Griffin Colapinto in the semis, until losing the final 15.56 to 12.94.

Earlier, Julian Wilson booked his spot in the Australian team for Tokyo 2020, when surfing will make its Olympic debut.

Wilson was eliminated in the last 16 but countryman Jack Freestone’s defeat in the quarter-finals means Wilson will join Owen Wright in the Australian team for next year’s Olympics in Japan.