This is not Italo Ferreira’s year.
After finishing second last year (behind Filipe Toledo), third the year before (behind Filipe and Gabriel Medina), then winning the World Title before that (COVID-19 canceled the tour in 2020, remember?), he’s currently sitting way down at 12th on the rankings.
And now, he has withdrawn from the season’s final stop, the Shiseido Tahiti Pro.
Per a press release from the WSL:
“Italo Ferreira (BRA) has withdrawn from the event due to a knee injury. He will be replaced by Kauli Vaast (FRA), the highest-ranked Tahitian surfer on the men’s Challenger Series. Vaast is sure to be a threat to the world’s best as he was an event wildcard here last year and finished runner-up.”
If you’ll recall, Italo suffered a nasty wipeout after a freefall from a floater at J-Bay. In an update following the injury, Italo wrote:
“It hurts just to look at it 🥴
“So had some tests done and found a bruise in the medial collateral ligament – no signs of tearing. ( strong leg 😅 )
“I’m returning to Brazil for new exams and to start the physical therapy process.
“Thanks a lot for the kind messages. 🫶”
With his low ranking on the CT, this also means that the former gold medalist likely won’t get a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics. There are four Brazilians ahead of him – Filipe Toledo, Joao Chianca, Yago Dora, and Gabriel Medina – and only two get to qualify.
Heal up, Italo.
***
Don’t miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We’re always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels.
Whether you’re a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.