In calmer conditions than earlier in the tournament, Vaast uncovered the best waves and surfed two long barrels in two minutes, scoring a mighty 9.50 and 8.17.
Robinson replied with a 7.83 barrel run of his own, but needing a 9.84 to overtake Vaast, he couldn't find wave worthy of an attempt.
Still, the Western Australian should be satisfied with his efforts in French Polynesia,
Earlier in the competition, he produced one of the highest-scoring waves of the Olympics — a 9.87 barrel ride during an early heat — and knocked out world No.1 John John Florence in the round of 16.
Robinson also defeated countryman Ethan Ewing in an all-Aussie quarter-final before waiting out three lay days up to the high-stakes Tuesday.
By beating Medina and winning silver, he produced Australia's best result in Olympic surfing, after Owen Wright won bronze at the discipline's first Games in Tokyo 2021.
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