PARIS 2024: Teahupo’o proves too fickle for surfing’s Picklum

Molly Picklum has survived a run-in with the reef but not her Olympics surfing heat, exiting the competition in the second round at Teahupo’o.

Frenchwoman Johanne Defay edged the Australian star on Monday morning (AEST), winning their knockout heat 11.83 to 7.43.

The early-stage meeting was a clash of two in-form stars of the World Surf League, with Picklum fourth in the standings and Defay sixth.

Defay, 30, made the early running at Tahiti’s Teahupo’o break – hosting Olympic competition more than 15,000km from mainland France – to put Picklum under pressure.

The 21-year-old Australian then chased a long barrel all the way into the shallows as she put together a combination ride to maximise her score.

When she bailed from the surf, she showed the peril of the infamous French Polynesian break: standing up in ankle-deep water.

Commentators said “she’s likely getting cut there” on the coral reef and “guaranteed she’s laying on it on her back”.

That ride produced her best score of the heat, 5.83, but Picklum needed another similar-scoring ride to top the Frenchwoman.

In calmer conditions than day one, her opportunity never arrived, and instead she bobbed up and down out the back of waves, watching the minutes tick down without a barrel she felt she could score heavily on.

Picklum’s exit leaves two-time world champion Tyler Wright as the sole Australian woman left in the field.

Wright won in first round to bypass the second round, and will return to competition – waves permitting – on Tuesday morning (AEST).

Fellow Aussie Jack Robinson takes to the water later on Monday in his second round tie with Peru’s Lucca Mesinas, with Ethan Ewing also already through to round three.

– AAP