Giorgio Gómez, QS surfer and ISA World Championship Stand Up Paddle medalist, top 5 on the world tour in this division, will now compete for Colombia, the national surfing federation of that country informed DUKE.

“We are pleased to announce that Colombia now has Giorgo Gomez, world number 3 in SUP surfing and current WQS competitor, as an official member of the Colombian team. Giorgio left the USA team to focus on Olympic qualification and contribute to the development of the new generations,” the statement said.

Giorgio was born in the United States but his father is Colombian, which leaves the door open for him to choose another nationality.

The change of country, as noted in the statement, goes hand in hand with the push that surfing brought to governments around the world after the announcement of the inclusion of the sport in Tokyo 2020.

A few weeks ago Kanoa Igarashi announced that she will be competing for Japan and not for the United States, as she has always done. Last year the talented Frankie Harrer left Australia to represent Germany and the list goes on.

Giorgio has not made any statements on his social media, although the flags of the two countries appear on his profile.

In his first tournament competing as a Colombian, the Ron Jon Quiksilver Pro held in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Gomez placed a very decent ninth.

Giorgio's younger sister, Izzi, three-time world champion in SUP Surfing and a very talented surfer, could make the same choice, but there is no news about her yet.