Surfer John John Florence shows off a Cristiano Ronaldo move as he prepares for the Paris Olympics

Team USA is gearing up to take on the mighty challenge! Featuring top surfers, including the current world ranked #1 Jan Jan Florence In their line-up, the Americans seem to be in top form for a podium finish at the Paris Olympics. And with the recent glimpse of their preparation, their agenda seems set. They ‘want’ to make their second ever surf appearance at this illustrious meeting to never forget!

Especially Florence, whose Tokyo Olympics ended in heartbreak as he was knocked out in the last 16. But a little sneak peek tells us that he seems to be at the height of his powers, 13 days before D-day. Well, it seems the 31-year-old is looking to redeem himself this time, with some classic Ronaldo-style swag!

John John Florence has a CR7 move up his sleeve

After a silver finish at the Lexus Pipe Pro, Florence now has his next goal: an Olympic medal. Well, he’s certainly not one to be all talk and no action. In one of his recent Instagram posts, the Hawaiian can be seen preparing hard for the mega battle. In the video, he’s training for Team USA and confidently catches a giant wave. The huge swell causes him to disappear from view for a few seconds, before he emerges with a heroic leap. “Goodbye Tahiti,” His caption once again emphasizes his willingness to take to the big stage.

When Florence’s surfboard lands back on the water after a slight lift, it looks very familiar. His hands go up into the air, almost touching, and then come back down quickly as they move apart. Together with the landing, it looks like a recreation of Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature celebration. Well, it had an identical impact. No stadium full of exuberant cheers, but amidst overlapping whistles and claps, a spectator watching Florence shouted with vigor: “Go for it Johnny boy!“while he performed the surfing stunt perfectly.

It’s commendable how Florence makes the toughest conditions and most intricate surf moves look so seamless! Plus, the video is a sign that the Hawaiian is in top form for the Games. But personally, John John Florence has chosen not to let the pressure get to him this time around. He recently admitted: “I don’t really put too much pressure on myself with the Olympics.” He approaches it with an open mind and considers it as: “For me it’s just an opportunity to put the icing on the cake.”

While the subjective goals are certainly different, the competitive energy in the Team USA tent right now is simply infectious. Let’s not forget that the side also houses world number 2, Griffin Colapinto. And how does the grind look for the Californian dynamo? Well, it seems on fleek!

Colapinto steps into the training waters with Florence

With the U.S. national anthem playing in the background, Colapinto recently posted a message from his day at the first Olympic training session. PS: With his dramatic surfing skills and the musical touch, the message might give you goosebumps! The waves he’s practicing on look like they’re several feet high and powerful, but Colapinto’s prowess makes it look like one long, effortless glide. He falls off his board once in the video, but he ultimately comes out on top.

In addition to the external details, we also have insider details about Colapinto’s holistic preparation. In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, he confesses how he’s approaching the Olympic stage without any extreme changes, just the basics. He said: “Well, my training hasn’t really changed that much. I’ve been doing this for a while. And every day I try my best to be the best person I can be and stay disciplined with my routines of meditating, doing Pilates, activities, writing in my journal, surfing a lot and just keeping a good balance in life, keeping a good healthy mindset.”

Apparently the surfers are showing their best game. Do you think Team USA can return from Paris with multiple surf awards? Let us know.