On the other side of the planet, almost 15,000 km from the French capital, surfing's second Olympic appearance began. The venue is special from every point of view. The blue water washes over the shallow coral, creating the spectacular waves that have made it famous all over the world.

Six nations (Canada, China, El Salvador, Spain, Mexico and Nicaragua) making their Olympic surfing debut arrived after two years of qualifying events around the world, culminating in a beautiful first day of competition with swells of four to six feet.

The intimidating reef of Teahupo'o, one of the world's most dangerous waves, was clearly visible through the crystal clear tubes surfed by the world's best athletes as the first round of men's and women's competition was completed.

There were no eliminations in the first round. The first place finisher in each heat went through to Round three and the two remaining surfers were sent through to Round two.

The USA team, with five members, including the current world No. 1 and 2 in both the men's and women's categories, as well as Tokyo 2020 gold medallist and five-time world champion Carissa Moore, were the leaders of the competition to the astonished eyes of the Haitians.

In the final round of the day, Moore scored a total of 9.00 and 16.50 to complete a sweep for the USA. "I can't wait to go back and enjoy today and everyone's success because it was really special," said Moore. "I feel like we were the team of good vibes. Everyone was very supportive and encouraging of each other. It was really great."

Caroline Marks had the best score of the day for the women, while Griffin Colapinto and John John Florence were the best for the men and Caitlin Simmers won a super heat.

Marks, the 2016 ISA U-16 World Junior Champion and 2023 WSL World Champion, wasted no time in scoring an excellent 8.50. She followed that up with a tube, scoring 9.43, the highest wave score of the day for the women. Her two-wave heat total of 17.93 was the highest of the day.

Colapinto posted the highest wave score of the day, 9.53, to beat local gold medal contender Kauli Vaast (FRA) and two-time Pan American gold medallist Lucca Mesinas (PER).

Florence rose to the challenge of proving why he is considered one of the best tube surfers of all time, delivering a masterclass to score a two-wave total of 17.33, the highest of the day for the men.

After competing in Tokyo 2020 with a serious knee injury, the two-time WSL World Champion and current world number one was feeling optimal and confident in his second Olympic Games. "It's great to represent where I'm from, to represent the USA, Hawaii, to get into the heat and feel really good, excited and full of energy," said Florence.

Simmers, the 2018 ISA U-16 World Junior Champion and current world number one, won the most anticipated matchup of Round 1. The super heat featured two of the world's best tube surfers, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and Molly Picklum (AUS), but the 18-year-old showed pure style on every wave, contributing to her 12.93 heat total to take the win.

Of the 21 nations represented among the 48 competitors, evenly split between men and women, the most eagerly awaited Olympic debut was that of the youngest surfer competing today, 15-year-old Siqi Yang from China.

Mexican Alan Cleland Jr scored a respectable 14.34 on two waves behind John John Florence (USA), while Spaniard Andy Criere scored an excellent 8.50 in the same heat.

The two surfers who qualified for the Universality, Bryan Pérez from El Salvador and Candelaria Resano from Nicaragua, put in good performances and completed several tubes, but will have to be at their best on the next day of competition when they face Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) respectively.

The three women who brought their nation to the big stage, Pan American Games Santiago 2023 silver medallist Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN) and her Spanish teammates Janire González-Extabarri and Nadia Erostarbe, pushed the limits.

Erostarbe, the 2024 ISA World Surfing Games bronze medallist, took the first Olympic win for the new nations at Paris 2024, scoring an excellent 8.33 with several impressive tubes. "It was a dream day. I think we had the best conditions all day. It was just perfect."

The ISA Athlete Training Camp gave Peru's Alonso Correa the confidence to beat the World Champion and Olympic medallist. The 2016 ISA U-18 World Junior Silver Medallist scored the first excellent score of the event, an 8.50, after a high drop into a tube.

With a backup of 5.83, the 26-year-old's heat total of 14.33 secured victory ahead of two-time World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Kanoa Igarashi (JPN).

Correa was one of many Paris 2024 Olympic surfers to attend an ISA Athlete Training Camp in Teahupo'o, where each surfer worked closely with local coach and Teahupo'o specialist Tereva David.

"The ISA Athlete Training Camp was a big change for me," said Correa. "Being here every day with the locals was incredible. In the heat I was thinking about what Tereva David would be telling me right now".

At the end of the day, Joan Duru secured a heroic victory for France in the first round. The host nation had mixed results. Local favourites Tahitians Kauli Vaast and Vahine Fierro were split, with Fierro winning to progress to Round three and Vaast to Round two. 

Reunion Island's Johanne Defay hit her head on the first wave and struggled to recover for the rest of the heat. It was Joan Duru, the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games gold medallist who will retire after Paris 2024, who put in the best performance. 

The 35-year-old came out of a good run with two minutes on the clock to score a 7.67 and turn around a heat that had been dominated by the technical experience of Jack Robinson (AUS).