Coming up short were France’s Johanne Defay and Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy, who will compete for bronze.
With no medallists from Tokyo 2020 advancing to the semi-finals, Paris 2024 will see an all-new women’s surfing podium. All four women in the medal matches are returning Olympians, with all four improving — most notably Marks and Hennessy, who both just missed the podium in Tokyo.
"I’m so happy. It feels so good … I was really emotional not medalling in Tokyo, so I’m going to stop talking now because I’ll get emotional now that I know I’m going to get one," Marks said to Olympics. com after advancing to the gold medal final. "I sliced my foot a few times on the reef, so I’m glad it worked out. I’m just so happy. Best feeling ever — such a big heat. I’ve had some big moments in my career and that win felt pretty big. Stoked I got the score."
