Surfing-Peru wins World Surfing Games team gold, Tahitians lift France Olympic hopes

FILE PHOTO: Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Surfing - Women's Shortboard - Round 3 - Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach, Tokyo, Japan - July 26, 2021. Tatiana Weston-Webb of Brazil in action during Heat 7 REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo

(Reuters) - Mexico's Alan Cleland and Brazil's Tatiana Weston-Webb won gold at the World Surfing Games in El Salvador on Wednesday, but Team France was also big a winner as it qualified two Tahitians for the 2024 Paris Olympics at their home break of Teahupo'o.

Cleland and Weston-Webb were worthy champions after surfing through a gruelling schedule in hot temperatures and pumping surf all week at Surf City in El Salvador, with Cleland racking up the highest score of the event in the final.