Facundo Arreyes, a prominent competitor on the WSL tour and former member of the Argentine surfing team, was critical of the only four surfers who can surf in Mar del Plata, responding to a post in the “Volver al mar” group on the Facebook social network that showed Usuna, Gundensen, Cosoleto and Pellizzari going surfing or being interviewed on television programs.

“They had the opportunity to say no, and to keep surfing underground for everyone. They screwed everyone, now they should put up with people's opinions, and stop coming with that bullshit about being world champions,” wrote the Argentine.

And he justified: “Because winning an ISA was never a world title, (the) world champion is defined in Hawaii, among the top 34 where no Argentine has ever been in, not even close to entering, but the medals serve to deceive the Enard (National High Performance Entity) and get scholarships.”

“The last Argentine podium in the World Surf League – men – was mine in 2018 and it wasn’t a big deal either, but selling smoke is not my thing, we are far from the top 10 of the WQS, because of these attitudes it will take us much longer, don’t fool people with lies, I traveled to World Championships and Pan-American Championships… In Argentina they give a damn about anyone who has ISA and Pan-American achievements, if you don’t win or you’re in the soap opera they leave you aside,” he added.

And he concluded: “Rest assured, after this I won’t mess around anymore. Never again will there be an ASA (Argentine Surf Association), a racist, elitist and xenophobic sport, at least in Mar del Plata, as a Cordoban living in Brazil I have already suffered a lot of discrimination. Greetings to everyone! Don’t buy smoke, we will continue to go clandestinely! Aloha!”

Last week, authorities allowed all individual athletes who have a chance to go to the Olympics to return to practicing their respective sports.

With this, only four surfers Nacho Gundensen, Lele Usuna, Ornella Pellizzari and Lucía Cosoleto were given the OK to enter the water in the capital of Argentine surfing where thousands of surfers live and practice the sport daily.

The decision evidently raised controversy.

On the other hand, yesterday the provincial capital confirmed its refusal to allow surfing and other individual sports to return.

Despite the fact that there has not been a case of coronavirus for more than a week, Mar del Plata has not had any surfing for more than 80 days.

In Argentina, 44918 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed, with 13140 recoveries and 1043 deaths.