Holy Toledo!

The Brazilian in action during the Olympic qualifier at the international Surfing association (ISA) World Surfing Games off La Marginal Beach in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, on March 2. — AFP

TWO months after double world champion Filipe Toledo shocked the surfing world by withdrawing from the professional tour to take a one-year mental health break, the Brazilian is in a happy place as he looks forward to the Paris Olympics.

Walking in Madrid’s Retiro Park on a sunny spring day, the 29-year-old said he has no regrets and that taking a sabbatical from the World Surf League was the best thing he’d ever done.