Taming the waves

Choppy seas: American Carissa Moore competes during the women’s surfing gold medal final at the Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach in Chiba. Below: Brazil’s Italo Ferreira does a somersault on the podium. — AFP

ICHINOMIYA (Japan): Brazil’s Italo Ferreira and American Carissa Moore overcame challenging conditions in brilliant style to win historic first Olympic surfing gold medals at the Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach.

Ferreira recovered from breaking his board on the first wave to beat Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi in the final, while Moore out-classed South African outsider Briana Buitendag to secure victory in the women’s event.