Paris Olympics: The story behind that viral surfing photo

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FILE - Brazil's Gabriel Medina reacts after getting a large wave in the 5th heat of the men's surfing round 3, during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in Teahupo'o, on the French Polynesian Island of Tahiti, on July 29, 2024. (Credit: JEROME BROUILLET/A

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You may have seen it "floating" around on social media – see what we did there?

An image of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina appearing to float in midair during the Olympics men’s surfing event on Monday is going viral on social media and beyond.

The photo shows Medina standing upright several feet above the surface of the water, pointing upwards to celebrate during the fifth heat of the men's surfing competition at Teahupo’o in Tahiti.

Medina scored a 9.90, which broke the Olympic surfing record for highest single-wave score since surfing became an official sport at the Tokyo Olympics.

Medina moves onto the quarter-finals and will be competing against fellow Brazilian Joao Chianca.

Who is Gabriel Medina?

Medina, 30, is a world renowned professional surfer who gained fame after winning two events in the World Surf League Championship Tour in 2011 at just 17. He was the youngest Brazilian surfer to do so.

He made history yet again in 2014 after becoming the first Brazilian to win the World Championships, according to the Olympics website.

Medina continued to dominate the sport and won world titles in 2018 and again in 2021, solidifying his status as the world’s No. 1 surfer at the time.

He competed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when surfing made its inaugural appearance and despite his amazing performance, he was not able to receive a medal.

After a six-month mental health break, Medina returned to surfing in 2022 but injured his knee during the Oi Rio Pro, rendering him unable to participate for the rest of the season.

He returned to the sport in 2023, however, determined to win more world titles.

Where did the photo take place?

The moment came on Monday during the fifth heat when Medina was facing off against Japan's Kanoa Igarashi, whom Medina lost to at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

During Medina's second run of the fifth heat, he flew down the barrel and then propelled himself over the back of the wave, where he raised his finger to the sky and the photo was taken.

"Felt amazing to get some good waves and I almost got a 10, so I was really happy with that. It’s really a dream come true to compete in waves like this for the Olympics. It was really in my dream and I’m realizing this today and I’m very happy to be a part of this," Medina told Olympics.com.

Since the photo was taken and gone live, it has quickly become one of the most circulated photos of the Paris Olympics on social media, despite the fact that it happened more than 10,000 miles away from Paris.