Surfing: Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Amuro Tsuzuki misses Paris Games

ARECIBO, Puerto Rico (Kyodo) — Tokyo Olympics surfing bronze medalist Amuro Tsuzuki missed out on qualifying a place for Japan at this summer’s Paris Games after falling short at the World Surfing Games on Friday.

The 22-year-old finished bottom in her heat in the repechage sixth round in Puerto Rico to bow out of the competition, from which the top eight finishers qualify slots for their nation at the Olympics.

“The most frustrating thing was I couldn’t surf the way I can feel satisfied with,” Tsuzuki said. “I was shadowed by my rivals throughout. It was a competition from which I learned a lot.”

The result leaves Shino Matsuda as the only Japanese female surfer who will compete this summer at the event in Tahiti.

The 21-year-old finished top among Asian surfers at last year’s World Surfing Games in El Salvador to all but seal her berth, and clinched it by simply taking part in this year’s edition of the tournament.

The elimination of Tsuzuki also meant Japan will not be awarded an additional spot in the women’s bracket for Paris awarded to the best-performing nation in Puerto Rico.

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Kanoa Igarashi and Reo Inaba have qualified for Paris for Japan’s men, with another also guaranteed to join the pair after the country won the team title at the 2022 World Surfing Games in California to earn an extra Olympic berth.