Two-time world champion and Tokyo 2020 qualifier Gabriel Medina criticized the Brazilian Olympic Committee for not allowing him to bring his girlfriend, model Yasmin Brunet, CNN Brasil reported after an interview with him.

“I have talked a lot with the COB. We can take two people to Japan within the commission, and each athlete is taking his staff. Ítalo is traveling with a friend who helps him, and they are making things difficult for me. My life has changed, I had another coach and another structure, two people who no longer work with me and they have not given me confirmation about whether I will be able to take my current coach,” Medina said.

And he added: “I also asked them if I can take Yasmin, because she has been travelling with me. They (COB) told me that it has nothing to do with surfing and that she couldn’t help the delegation. But what about Tati’s merit? He surfs, he participated in the world tour. I’m just asking, why can’t I take her? They are the people who help me. It’s not because they are better, it’s because they are the people who are in my day to day life. I think it’s right that they take their equipment, I don’t know what the difficulty is in me taking mine. Am I going to have to travel alone? Why is it only happening to me?”

The Brazilian Olympic Committee said it had last month accredited Andy King, its new coach after he stopped working with his stepfather, Carlao.

However, according to the organization, the Olympic Games regulations only allow for bringing in a professional who has credentials and is on the long list. In addition, there is a limit on credentials per delegation and their policy is for them to have technical functions with proven experience.

This year, the news that the two-time world champion would no longer be working with his stepfather shook the surfing world. Medina won all his titles with him. The surfer declared that he wanted to start a new path.

Some Brazilian media reported that Medina's family had a falling out with his new wife, showing screenshots of them unfollowing each other on Instagram.