John John Florence bypassed the Nov. 1 deadline to request a WSL season wild card, choosing family travel over full-time competition. Because American Olympic spots depend heavily on world tour standings to select athletes for qualification events, skipping the tour eliminates his pathway to the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The 34-year-old clarified that he is not permanently retiring and is currently pursuing an event wild card for the upcoming season finale at Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore.
Key points
Florence will miss the 2028 Los Angeles Games due to his absence from the professional qu…: Florence will miss the 2028 Los Angeles Games due to his absence from the professional qualification pathway.
The Hawaiian surfer opted to continue sailing around the world with his family rather tha…: The Hawaiian surfer opted to continue sailing around the world with his family rather than compete full-time.
Florence confirmed his decision is not a full retirement, though his plans for the 2028 s…: Florence confirmed his decision is not a full retirement, though his plans for the 2028 season remain uncertain.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Nov 11 : Three-times world champion John John Florence will not seek a wild card entry for surfing's professional world tour next year, all but ruling the American out of a place at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Hawaiian Florence, who represented the US at the Tokyo and Paris Games, took the last two years off the World Surf League's (WSL) world championship tour after winning the title in 2024.
He has spent most of the time since sailing around the world with his wife and young son.
ESPN reported Florence had elected not to seek the WSL season wild card by the November 1 deadline.
"I try to take things in three-year blocks," he told ESPN. "The third year becomes ultra fun because you've learned a lot of little tricks and you're off and running.
"We need more time," the 34-year-old said. "There's a lot of momentum with what I'm doing now."
Under surfing's qualification system, up to three athletes of each gender from each country can qualify via the world tour and through other surfing competitions…
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