Paris 2024 Olympics: Meet Griffin Colapinto, movie star, multi-faceted board rider and Matthew McConaughey’s favorite surfer

Griffin Colapinto is a surfer’s surfer.

Born and raised in San Clemente, California, the 25-year-old Colapinto and his younger brother Crosby (22, also a professional surfer) were raised on the beaches and in the breaking waves of this close-knit surf town.

Colapinto grew up surfing famous local breaks, including Trestles, a surf spot immortalized by the Beach Boys in their hit song, Surfin’ U.S.A., and a wave that has spawned the careers of many famous surfers, including Tokyo 2020 Olympian Kolohe Andino and fellow Olympic Games Paris 2024 2024 surfer Caroline Marks.

Colapinto has been surfing competitively since 2011, at age 13. He jumped to the Championship Tour (CT) in 2018 and has been climbing the rankings since then.

He and his brother have a popular YouTube channel Cola Bros, where they share their surfing antics, usually alongside a cast of friends and media who document the competitive surfer’s lifestyle.

Colapinto has also been busy over the last three years chasing waves for a new movie, Trilogy: New Wave, that is currently touring film festivals and is set for general release in September. The film also stars his good friends, Australian Olympic surfer Ethan Ewing and Hawaiian Seth Moniz, showcasing the non-competitive side of surfing.

Paris marks the first Olympic Games for this top surfer. Find out more, including his friendship with movie star Matthew McConaughey, the meaning behind his surfboard graphic (hint: Airbender), and what his mental strategy is for surfing Teahupo’o.

Colapinto counts McConaughey and his sons among his many fans

Colapinto has rocketed to the top of the Championship Tour (CT) over the past two years. He finished third in the rankings in 2023 and is currently sitting in second place in the 2024 rankings behind fellow Team USA surfer John John Florence.

Ahead of the final CT held last September at Teahupo’o, where Colapinto was aiming for the world title, he received a surprise motivational video from McConaughey. The video featured Colapinto’s supporters from across San Clemente cheering him on, with a motivational voiceover from the popular actor.

Stab Magazine reports that McConaughey’s kids are “keen surfers who adore Griff,” which led to McConaughey’s participation.

There’s no word yet on whether McConaughey will be sending through a follow-up motivational video for Colapinto ahead of the Olympic Summer Games.

Colapinto has turned his focus inward at Teahupo’o

Colapinto was the first American surfer to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, a massive accomplishment in one of the most competitive fields.

While huge highs have punctuated his surfing, he has had some disappointments, including at Teahupo’o, where he had one of his most challenging performances of the season at the CT in June, crashing out in round 2 and finishing an uncharacteristic 17th.

Colapinto told Fox News he attributed his loss to being in the wrong mental state for the competition.

He shared how he approaches his mental health leading up to competitions, including the Olympic Games in Tahiti.

“Chasing a dream, chasing something so challenging, you’re going to be dealt with hard moments throughout the journey,” Colapinto said. “Through that, I started journaling, meditating, and reading books. I ended up creating my own little system of tools to help me on my journey, and the journaling was a really cool one.”

Colapinto told olympics.com that one of the must-haves for his trip to the Olympic Games is a custom-guided journal he created with his brother Crosby.

Colapinto also shared on Instagram how he uses meditation and journaling ahead of competition to focus.

Colapinto showcased a new Avatar-inspired look heading into Paris 2024

Colapinto took advantage of a big swell that hit Teahupo’o in the weeks leading up to Paris 2024 to get some practice. In an Instagram post, the regular-footed surfer showcased consequential drop-ins and deep-tube rides, displaying his readiness for these Games.

He also debuted a new personal theme inspired by Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender, featuring a new hairstyle with a bright blue arrow and a similar design on the fleet of 10 surfboards he’ll have with him at Teahopo’o.

Colapinto hasn't shared his reasons for aligning with Aang, but it might have something to do with his monk-like presence and a name that translates to “peaceful soaring,” an apt description of his surfing style.