The best American surfer at the 2019 CT and the ISA World Surfing Games of the same year, Kolohe Andino, underwent surgery for the injury he sustained to his ankle in Hawaii at the beginning of the year and which worsened in Australia, he reported on his social networks.

In a video showing his right leg in a cast and various recovery movements, Kolohe wrote: “72 hours post op and I’m already moving with Motus Physical Therapy. On my way to recovery with a focus on the Olympics.”

Kolohe was the best qualified athlete for Tokyo 2020 from his country and it is uncertain whether or not he will participate in the World Championships in El Salvador.

He did not say how long it will take for him to recover.

The American went to Australia, did the two-week quarantine and during the freesurfing sessions prior to the Newcastle Pro his ankle injury worsened.

Kolohe's situation for Tokyo 2020 is interesting because if he is unable to participate, Slater will be his replacement.

One of the 11-time champion's intentions in his 2019 campaign was to qualify for Tokyo 2020, a goal he narrowly missed out on as John John Florence overtook him in the final stage at Pipe.

The other implication is that in order to qualify for Tokyo, Slater must definitely make it to the World Cup in El Salvador, unless, of course, he is injured, which is the situation he is in now.

 

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