ISA presents Historical Medal Chart

ISA is proud to present its Historical Medal Chart, in which the countries that have dominated surfing since 1996 can be observed, together with details of each one of the medals won, in which year, where and by whom.

This is the best way to see the countries that lead world surfing.  To create the chart, ISA considered the sum of medals won during all its events from 1996 onwards. By combining the medals conquered in the ISA World Surfing Games, the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship and the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship, an absolute country ranking was obtained, and showed the following:

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TO SEE THE HISTORICAL MEDAL CHART

The ISA decided to start this ranking in 1996, because it was in that year when the recently elected President of the ISA, Fernando Aguerre, determined to give medals to the four finalists in each division of the ISA events, just like it happens in the Olympic Games.

Since his election as the leader of the ISA in 1994, Aguerre set the goal of getting Surfing into the Olympics. Since 1996 the ISA World Championship changed to the ISA World Surfing Games in which all the best surfers of the world –and not only the “amateurs”- started to make part of the event, this way the world best surfer were defined. Since 1996, a new way of making world championship began, in a true Olympic spirit, with medals, and an Opening Ceremony that includes the today’s famous Sands of the World Ceremony.

In the history of the ISA world championships, the Open, the Junior and the Masters, the country with more medals won has been the super surfing force that is Australia, with 29 gold, 21 silver, 22 bronze and 16 copper medals.  It is followed by Brazil, with a total of 70 medals, South Africa with 41 and the United States with 32.

The Historical Medal Chart, not only shows, in ranking format, the countries that dominate competitive world surfing, but also serves as a practical tool to establish easily a good part of the History of world surfing.

Special thanks to ISA Technical Director Marcos Bukão who made the Historical Medal Chart.

About the International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karin Sierralta (Peru).

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