Surfing debuted as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo 2020 Games and repeated its presence at Paris 2024. Its participation in Los Angeles 2028 is also confirmed, consolidating its status as an Olympic sport. This recognition marks a milestone in the evolution of surfing, which has evolved from an ancient tradition to a high-level competitive sport.
Originating in Polynesian cultures, especially in Hawaii, surfing was practiced by kings and warriors as a spiritual and social expression closely linked to the ocean. Over time, it went global and transformed into a cultural phenomenon with millions of practitioners around the world.
In Olympic competitions, judges evaluate aspects such as difficulty, innovation, fluidity, and control of maneuvers, in the athlete's constant struggle with the unpredictable forces of the sea.
Spain participated in surfing at the Olympic Games for the first time with three representatives: Nadia Erostarbe, Janire González-Etxabarri, and Andy Criere. Erostarbe, born in Zarautz, achieved a creditable fifth place, earning Spain's first Olympic surfing diploma. Her teammates finished 17th, completing an outstanding national performance.
The inclusion of surfing in the Olympic program has been key to its global projection. In Spain, this boost has sparked the interest of new generations and consolidated surfing's presence within the national sporting arena. Participation in Paris 2024 not only represented an individual achievement for the athletes, but also a step forward for Spanish surfing, which continues to grow in popularity, structure, and competitive level.
The commemorative stamp dedicated to surfing shows a breaking wave, with a surfer executing a maneuver, a symbol of the energy and beauty of this sport that connects humans with the sea.
