French Polynesian Kauli Vaast and Caroline Marks of U.S. win gold at Paris Olympics surfing

TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti (AP) — French Polynesian Kauli Vaast won the gold medal in men’s surfing while Caroline Marks from the United States won the women's surfing gold medal on Monday at the Paris Olympics in Tahiti.

Cheers and tears erupted from boats floating near the wave and crowds of spectators along the shore as the men's final match ended in the afternoon. Vaast pumped his arms into the air in victory after beating Jack Robinson from Australia, who received the silver medal.

“I don’t really realize it, but I just made history,” said Vaast. “I can’t be prouder to represent Tahiti and France at home.”

The women's gold medal match ended about thirty minutes later, with Marks beating Tatiana Weston-Webb from Brazil, who was awarded the silver medal.

“Your whole life goes into a moment like this,” Marks said with a gold medal hanging around her neck. “It’s beyond all my wildest dreams.”

For the bronze medals, Gabriel Medina from Brazil and Johanne Defay from France won after beating Alonso Correa from Peru and Brisa Hennessy from Costa Rica, respectively.

“Chopes gave me so many good waves, so many good results. So I can’t complain,” said Medina, using a common nickname for Teahupo'o.

Medalists — some in bare feet — stepped on to the Olympic podium near the ocean as crowds gathered to cheer and take photographs. Roosters ran along the grass while young local surfers called the names of the athletes as they walked by.

All winners of the Paris Olympics surfing competition are first-time Olympic medalists, after defending Olympic women’s champion Carissa Moore of the United States — who won at the Tokyo Games, where Olympic surfing debuted — was beaten in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

“Obviously I’m really sad to not be a part of finals day, to get to represent my home and my family one more time, but I’m really grateful,” Moore said after her loss. “I just hope that at the end of the day I can encourage whoever is watching, win or lose, don’t be afraid to go into it fearlessly and don’t be afraid to fail.”

The final day of the Paris Olympics surfing competition began Monday morning after two days of delays due to unfavorable conditions. In the morning, conditions were smaller than the heavy, barrel-shaped waves Teahupo’o is famed for and that were seen during part of the men’s competition the week before.

But by the afternoon waves grew larger and more frequent, giving athletes a chance to impress judges with the time they spent inside the barrels. At one point during the competition a whale jumped out of the water while surfers went head to head.

Six of the eight surfers who made it to the semifinals represented different nations. French Polynesian, Peruvian, Australian and other national flags flew from boats near the waves.

While not every surfer who competed was able to bring home a medal, many agreed that the second-ever Olympics surfing competition — filled with viral photographs, record-breaking scores and hours of stunning video footage broadcast to viewers around the world — helped promote the sport.

"Everyone’s watching and paying attention,” said Medina, who said he gained millions of social media followers after a photo of him floating in the sky next to his surfboard while bailing out of a wave went viral during the competition. “I think surfing wins”

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Caroline Marks, of the United States, surfs during the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Kauli Vaast, of France, celebrates during the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Kauli Vaast, of France, center, celebrates alongside his coach Jeremy Flores, second from right, after winning the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Kauli Vaast, of France, celebrates after winning the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Tatiana Weston-Webb, of Brazil, carves off a wave in the women's gold medal final in the surfing competition during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Ben Thouard/Pool Photo via AP)

Tatiana Weston-Webb, of Brazil, surfs during the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Tatiana Weston-Webb, of Brazil, drops into a wave in the women's gold medal final in the surfing competition during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Ben Thouard/Pool Photo via AP)

Tatiana Weston-Webb, of Brazil, surfs during the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Tatiana Weston-Webb, of Brazil, drops into a wave in the women's gold medal final in the surfing competition during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Ben Thouard/Pool Photo via AP)

Caroline Marks, of the United States, gets a wave in the women's gold medal final in the surfing competition during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. (Ben Thouard/Pool Photo via AP)

Caroline Marks, of the United States, surfs during the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Jack Robinson, of Australia, snaps off the lip during the semifinals of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (Ben Thouard/Pool Photo via AP)

Jack Robinson, of Australia, snaps off the lip during the semifinals of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (Ben Thouard/Pool Photo via AP)

Kauli Vaast, of France, celebrates during the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Kauli Vaast, of France, surfs during the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Jack Robinson, of Australia, surfs during the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Caroline Marks, of the United States, turns on a wave in the semifinals of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (Ben Thouard/Pool Photo via AP)

Kauli Vaast, of France, celebrates after winning the gold medal match of the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

DENVER (AP) — Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers had to concern themselves with Patrick Surtain II for only a single snap Sunday.

After Surtain went out with a concussion on Denver’s first defensive play, Herbert directed a clock-chewing, methodical offense that capitalized on the superstar's departure for a 23-16 win over the Broncos.

“We’ve got a lot of respect for him as a defender, but it’s always the next play," Herbert said. "We’re not worried about who’s out there. ... It’s about us. As long as we’re executing and doing everything we can as an offensive unit, I think we’re going to like the result.”

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who missed the start of the game while being treated by the team's medical personnel for an irregular heartbeat, called it a “great and glorious win.”

Harbaugh returned to the sideline in the first quarter after getting an IV and magnesium and coached the remainder of the game. He said he'd consult with his cardiologist Monday.

“He’s tough,” Herbert said. “He did a really good job of hiding because I was unaware of it.”

Denver didn't blitz as much minus Surtain and the Chargers (3-2) built a 23-0 lead after three quarters. They looked for much of the afternoon as though they'd hand the Broncos (3-3) their first home shutout in their 65-year history.

After two turnovers and five punts, the Broncos' offense came to life as Bo Nix directed the Broncos on a 95-yard scoring drive capped by his 2-yard pass to fellow Oregon alum Troy Franklin, then found Courtland Sutton for a diving 15-yard TD grab with 5:22 remaining. A failed 2-point try left the double-digit deficit in place, however.

The Broncos forced a punt and reached the Chargers 32 on their next possession and Wil Lutz's 40-yard field goal on first down made it 23-16 with 59 seconds left. He wasn't as accurate on his onside kicks, though.

His first onside kick — and a do-over after offsetting penalties — failed and the Chargers salted away their first win over Denver in two years and their first against Sean Payton in seven tries.

“Just didn't perform how we want, but we feel like the fight was there,” Nix said.

The game featured two of the league's top defenses. And with Chargers star Joey Bosa missing his second straight game because of a nagging hip issue, the matchup figured to tilt in favor of the Broncos, who hadn't lost since Week 2.

Surtain's concussion changed that calculation entirely as the Broncos' three-game winning streak ended.

“It was very unfortunate because he's not just a huge part of the defense, but the team," Sutton said.

Herbert set season highs in completions (21) and yards (237) while playing a ball-control style that chewed up yards and clock.

“I thought he was as precise as he could be, or a quarterback could be,” Harbaugh said. “There were some great throws, some great moves to avoid the pressure. He was just putting the ball in the appropriate spot throughout the entire game. I was super impressed.

"Hopefully this reminds everybody that Justin Herbert is really good at playing quarterback. He was putting it on the money.”

It helped that he didn't have Surtain in the way.

Surtain got hurt while breaking up Herbert's first pass to Ladd McConkey. He'll likely miss the next game, too, because it's Thursday night at New Orleans.

Without Surtain, the Broncos couldn't stop the Chargers, who had two field goals and two touchdowns before a kneel-down to end the first half in which they had possession for more than 21 minutes.

The Broncos' only snap in Chargers territory in the first half ended in a lost fumble by running back Javonte Williams.

“We did all the things you can’t do in a game like that,” Payton said after the Broncos lost the turnover battle and converted just three of 11 third downs to the Chargers’ 11 of 18. “We didn't do a number of things well today.”

Rookie running back Kimami Vidal's first NFL touch was a 38-yard catch-and-run touchdown that made it 10-0. J.K. Dobbins, who ran for 96 yards, scored on a 4-yard touchdown run and Cameron Dicker kicked field goals from 20 and 33 yards.

The last field goal capped a 20-play, 76-yard masterpiece that lasted 10:29 seconds and came one play after Herbert scooped up his fumble forced by Jonathon Cooper on a strip-sack.

“Man, I thought we had some time over there to chill," Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack said. "That was different. That was a huge deal, especially playing in this altitude, to let the defense rest. And that’s another reason we were able to have success.”

Surtain's absence Sunday showed his value to the Broncos as much his exploits had a week earlier when his two-interception performance against Las Vegas earned him AFC defensive player of the week honors.

Surtain's injury came one play after Chargers safety Elijah Molden picked off Nix's first pass and returned it 25 yards to the Denver 31.

Chargers: Leaving with injuries were: G/T Trey Pickens (shoulder), TE Hayden Hurst (groin), DB Deane Leonard (hamstring) and CB Kristian Fulton (hamstring).

Broncos: RT Alex Palczewski (ankle) was inactive.

Chargers: Visit the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night, Oct. 21.

Broncos: Visit the Saints on Thursday night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh responds to a question during news conference after defeating the Denver Broncos in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, center, is pursued by Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu (45) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert heads off the field after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) runs with the football as Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones (22) tries to tackle during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh stands on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) stands with trainers after sustaining an injury during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)