Brazilian surf legend Rico de Souza stoked by sport's inclusion at Tokyo 2020
A native of Rio de Janeiro, de Souza says Olympic status will help grow the sport of surfing in Brazil and could increase the country's haul of medals
When Rico de Souza began surfing the waves of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, he could never have imagined that 50 years later the sport would be an Olympic discipline. That Olympic dream is now a reality for surfers, after the International Olympic Committee voted to add the sport to the programme for Tokyo 2020.
De Souza was one of the pioneers of surfing in Brazil and still plays an active part in growing the sport in his country.
From paradisiacal Macumba beach on the western outskirts of this year's Olympic city, de Souza spoke to Rio 2016 about what the decision means for surfing and about Brazil's prospects for the future.
"It's fantastic, we always dreamed about surfing being an Olympic sport," he said. "It will gain strength, visibility and major investments."
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