Shino Matsuda, of Japan, is stealing the hearts of fans watching the Paris Olympics.
Surfing is probably one of the most underrated events at the Summer Olympics since other sports like gymnastics, swimming, and even basketball are getting more coverage in the media.
For the Paris Olympics, surfing takes place in Tahiti, where the waves are really strong.
Shino Matsuda of Japan is emerging as a fan favorite after the 21-year-old surfer went viral for her pictures online.
One of the many pictures that went viral was of Matsuda sitting in a yellow and black polka-dot bikini as she smiled for the camera. Another picture showed her smiling while looking off into the distance, rocking a white two-piece bikini, and holding a surfboard.
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Shino Matsuda may be unknown to the masses, but she still has a strong following. She currently boasts more than 154,000 followers on Instagram.
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The opening round of the women’s competition kicked off this past Sunday in Tahiti, and Matsuda showed she is more than just a pretty face as she finished in second place in the eighth heat. The judges awarded her 11.6 points.
Following her first heat, Matsuda thanked her fans, saying, “Thankful for all the experiences and will do my best in the next one. Thank you for all of your support,” Matsuda wrote. “Here’s to another good wave. Into the next round. Thank you everyone for your big support. Let’s go.”
Shino Matsuda Has Been Making A Name For Herself Since A Young Age
Shino Matsuda is only 21 years old and has quickly risen up the ranks in surfing.
Shino went head to head with the world’s best National Surfing Teams at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games in Miyazaki, Japan, and finished in 15th place, and as the highest-ranking surfer from Asia, she was awarded a continental qualification slot for Tokyo 2020, per Surfergirls.com.
However, the position was provisional and was reallocated after compatriots Mahina Maeda and eventual bronze medallist Amuro Tsuzuki qualified at the ISA Surfing Games in 2021.
Shino Matsuda now has a strong chance to bring home a medal in 2024.
