Surfing was first approved on August 3, 2016, by the International Olympic Committee to be included as an Olympic sport in the 2020 Tokyo games. 

The sport was popularised by Duke Kahanamoku, from Hawaii, who won three gold medals in swimming at the Stockholm 1912 and Antwerp 1920 Games when competing for the USA. Kahanamoku is considered ‘the father of modern surfing’ and planted the seed for surfing’s future Olympic inclusion by expressing his dream to see the sport become an Olympic sport while accepting his medal on the podium at the 1912 Games.

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Although initially it was proposed that the event would take place in an artificial wave pool, the International Surfing Association announced that the Olympic event would take place in the ocean itself.

In natural conditions, the waves, the direction and strength of the wind, and the ebb and flow of the tide will all turn out to be determining factors for the event.

No two waves are alike, making surfing a competition where athletes compete against each other while balancing the changing conditions of nature.

At the Tokyo 2020 Games, shortboards, which is is approximately six feet (1.8m) in length, will be used and 20 men and 20 women will compete in separate competitions.

Because this is the first Olympic surfing sport, all of the countries who qualified will be keen to make an impression. The United States has a long and illustrious history in the sport. Australia, with its stunning beaches, is known for its powerful surfers, who have dominated the top competition for decades.

More lately, with its obvious “Brazilian storm,” Brazil has began to guide the way for Latin America, creating a new supremacy within a sport that is currently second only to football (soccer) in popularity.

But where will the first-ever Olympic Surfing events take place?

All the surfing events at the Tokyo Olympics will take place at the Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach. The beach is located in Ichinomiya town on Chiba Prefecture’s Pacific coastline.

Boasting world-class waves, this Japanese beach attracts lots of surfers each year.