Jordy Smith: South Africa's surfing aerialist is 'hungry more than ever' to make it to Paris 2024
Missing Tokyo 2020 due to injury has made the South African star even more determined to qualify for the next Summer Olympics. In this exclusive interview, the 35-year-old reflects on his 'obsession' for the sport and the relationship with his father Graham.
Surfing
It is easy to stand out from the crowd when you are 6 foot 3 (1.9m). But an impressive height is not the only remarkable quality about South Africa’s Jordy Smith.
The 35-year-old surfer has competed on the World Championship Tour for 15 years and has had at least one Top 5 finish every season going back to 2010.
This consistency reflects the passion Smith has for surfing, so much of it, in fact, that despite his great height he is considered one of the sport’s best aerialists. The tallest surfer on the Championship Tour, Smith has pioneered moves such as the rodeo flip and the superman air.
_"_One consistent throughout my life is surfing. And that's been a passion," Smith told Olympics.com.
"I'm absolutely obsessive. I'm obsessed about what I do in surfing. I can't get enough of it. Whenever the waves are good, I will try to do anything I can to get it. It's just my love, I just absolutely love surfing."
His next plans? Just keep going up.
Father and son: A Smith family affair
As an 11-year-old, Smith once spent seven hours surfing in the waters near his hometown Durban. To this day, it remains his longest surf session.
With that amount of passion for the sport, it is no surprise that Smith made a statement early on.
The South African introduced himself to the world by winning the ISA World Junior Championships in 2003 and has since become one of the most consistent surfers on the tour.
As Smith’s surfing career progressed, there was another man behind the scenes with passion to match, helping to push him forward – his father, who is also his shaper.
Graham Smith is a former surfer who makes surfboards under the brand SMTH Shapes, which he co-owns with his son.
_“_The bond between myself and my father is second to none. He's my best friend, my father. I have so much respect for him,” Smith said. “He's helped me and guided me to where I am today to be able to achieve some of my goals that I have today. And the best part of all, he's been right there next to me the whole time.”
The relationship has gone both ways. While Graham Smith has helped his son reach the top in surfing, now it is the son encouraging his father to get on a board.
“We have a super open and honest relationship,” said Jordy Smith, who became a father himself two years ago. “Me as a son, trying to help him stay fit and healthy at 72 years old, surfing every day, is really a bonus.”
Tokyo 2020: A hard decision
While Smith’s passion has served him well over his career, it was powerless against an injury that came at the least opportune moment.
Smith qualified for the Tokyo 2020, where surfing would be making its debut, but a month before the Olympics he tore his LCL and had to get knee reconstruction.
He ultimately made the decision not to compete.
“Missing (Tokyo) 2020 definitely hurt and made me strive more now to be able to get there for 2024 Paris. Yes, you have ups and downs in life, but it's how you deal with it and how you come back that's really the story," Smith said.
Tackling Tahiti
The next Olympic competition in surfing will take place in Teahupo’o, Tahiti next summer.
Smith has surfed Teahupo’o numerous times and finished third in the Tahiti Pro stage of the World Championship Tour in 2019.
With that experience in his pocket, Smith knows just what to expect on the infamous wave.
“I think for the surfers that are going to go for the first time, their eyes are going to be like pool balls. I suggest going and having a look before you go,” Smith said. “It can be very scary at times, as we know. But there is a set date and we're just going to hope for those 4 to 6 foot perfect conditions. And I think surfing can really be brought to light if the conditions played well.”
Qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games would make Smith the first male athlete to represent South Africa in an Olympic surfing competition.
And once again, Smith is ready to give it his all.
_“_Jordy Smith then was just a young kid fresh on the scene hungry and not much has changed - other than now I've got a beautiful family - still hungry more than ever," Smith said of his evolution as a surfer. "Any time I spend away from the family, I want to make sure it counts. And so for me, I put everything into every single day giving it my best shot.”