Jordy out of the Olympics :(

KNEE STRAIN: Jordy Smith whips up steep slash at the 2019 Ballito Pro. Photo WSL / Janssens

According to a media statement, Smith has not fully recovered following surgery on his knee. Extensive barometric recuperation and physiotherapy in Cape Town was not on track to prepare him in time for the surfing segment of the Tokyo Olympics in three weeks. While the big guy has not been that enamoured with the predicted size and power of the surf near Tokyo, it will be a major blow that his recovery has not responded quick enough since suffering a serious knee injury five weeks ago.

Smith underwent knee surgery in the hopes of avoiding substantial long term damage, and was hopeful of it healing in time, but in the statement said: "It was tough to make the decision to ‘ So I opted for the repair. I've got 10 years plus of my professional surfing career and my entire life that I want to continue surfing. I wanted to keep my knee in its most original state instead of having full knee construction. ’withdraw. I've been looking forward to the Olympics a long time now and my build up was going so well. However, this decision is the only way to ensure I have a long career in professional surfing and reach my ultimate goal of winning the WSL Championship Tour."

According to Surfing SA, his spot in the Olympics goes to the next highest available person in the rankings. It appears that person will be Italian surfer Leonardo Fioravanti, who is the alternate. Smith was ranked No 7 on the 2021 Championship Tour. Sadly, and a little controversially, the rules don't allow for a South African to replace him.

Isaac February, who was to be manager, has confirmed that he will not be travel to Japan, but Bianca Buitendag, South Africa's remaining surfer, will be accompanied by head coach Greg Emslie.

The surfing leg of the Olympics will take place at Shidashita Beach between 25 July and 1 August, subject to wave conditions, which are predicted to be pretty small. Smith has said that he did not expect the quality of surf to be great, saying: "As far as wave quality goes, it's not very high."

The reason that Smith chose to have the operation so close to the Olympics, rather than wait till afterwards: "My mobility and everything was fine. We could [have left] it and then do surgery after the Olympics, but that would have called for a full knee construction. At that point, it would have been anything from eight months to a year and a half out after that, as opposed to a month and a half to two months, maybe three months max -- and that's [for] your average person.

"So I opted for the repair. I've got 10 years plus of my professional surfing career and my entire life that I want to continue surfing. I wanted to keep my knee in its most original state instead of having full knee construction.

"At that point, who knows how long things are going to take? It would put next year out for me. It would put a lot more at risk for me. I think the biggest goal for me is to be able to surf for as long as possible in my life with a healthy knee."