Exactly 6-months ago, João Chianca suffered a serious head injury after a wipeout at Backdoor. The world number 4 was knocked out and rushed to the hospital, where he spent days regaining consciousness and then weeks after under 24 hour care when it was discovered he had a significant amount of bleeding in his brain. Just a terrifying injury.
While it’s been a grueling ordeal and recovery, Chianca is back in the water and back in Top 5 form. Last month, he rampaged through the early rounds at the Challenger Series stop at Snapper, finishing in equal 5th. From there, he jumped a plane to northern Sumatra to chase the first swell of Indonesia’s 2024 season, and the result of that trip is playing above. As you’ll see, Chianca rips the bag out of the small stuff (as expected), but he also jumps right back into the deep end on the bigger days, rushing a shallow slab with absolutely zero signs of PTSD.
One of the best in the world in big, scary left slabs, Chianca no doubt found it hard watching his peers score perfect Tahiti the last few days. That said, Chianca’s representing Brazil in the Olympics at Chopes in August, and you just know he’s praying for a similar forecast.
And if it happens? He’s got as good of a chance as any to win Gold at the greatest wave on earth. And wouldn’t that just be the ultimate comeback story?