This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)
Qualifying for the Olympics is tough in any sport. It is difficult and it can quickly become a chore or even mission impossible if you are injured. Unless your name is JJF. Because that’s what John John had to face last year as he struggled to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Games (since postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic).
In 2019, after starting the year better than he had ever done at any time in his career (2 wins in the first 3 stages), John John again injured his knee in Brazil.
As a reminder, to qualify for the American team which will have the chance to go to Tokyo, you had to be among the two best Americans in the standings at the end of the year. Frankly not obvious when you know that there were 8 on the CT in 2019. And of course, the 8 were hoping to be part of the party as surfing was about to make its entry into the Olympic court for the first time in its history. . Undeniably, in the American team (as in the Brazilian or Australian team in particular), a lot of good people were going to be left on the doorstep. And with a Kolohe Andino in top form, he was going to be a surfer like John John or Kelly.
John John Florence and Parallel Sea yesterday released the trailer for a film that traces this story.
Tokyo Rising will essentially tell the behind the scenes of the chase led by Kelly Slater to try to overtake John John in the standings in order to qualify. The film will of course return to the return to form of the Little Prince of the North Shore after having treated his nasty knee injury.
John John on Instagram:
“After injuring my knee last summer, I didn’t think it would be possible to surf the Pipe Masters five months after the operation, but I decided to make it my goal and give myself all the chances of participating in case there is still a possibility of qualifying for the Olympics. I hope this film inspires people to pursue their goals. “
Indeed, only five months after the operation, JJF resumed competition in Pipe to prevent the King from securing his Olympic place. A King who, despite his age and what can be said about him, was still in 2019, writing history.
Parallel Sea presents TOKYO RISING featuring John John Florence, Kelly Slater, Kolohe Andino, and Ross Williams, in association with @Clif Bar & Company. The feature length documentary will be available 11/12 on @Amazon Prime Video in English speaking countries. Streaming options to view the film in other languages coming soon.
Footage courtesy of @World Surf League Producer · Spencer Klein Director of Photography · Erik Knutson Editor · Kyle Stebbins Story Supervisor · Truen Pence Music Supervisor · Rob Dennler Interviews · Peter King Additional Cinematography · Sonny Miller, Alek Parker, Reagan Ritchie Colorist · Eric Rosen Sound Mix · Keith White Media Management · Dylan Fergusson, Raleigh NortonMOSTRA MENO