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Rio de Janeiro, December 21 (IANS)
Gabriel Medina earned the type of hero status usually reserved for Brazilian footballers after becoming the country's first surfing World Champion.
The 20-year-old clinched the title ahead of Australia's Mick Fanning by taking second place at the season-ending Pipe Masters in Hawaii on Saturday.
"Gabriel Medina makes history and is [the] champion of the world," screamed O Globo's leading sports headline Saturday.
The Rio de Janeiro-based newspaper predicted Medina's triumph would revitalise surfing in Brazil, which has suffered from a lack of funding and dearth of local events.
Medina has restored Brazil’s pride after football World Cup debacle
Estado de S.Paulo said the result went some way to erasing the memory of Brazil's 1-7 defeat to Germany in the semifinals of this year's football World Cup.
"Deflated by the scandalous loss to Germany, Gabriel Medina's glory in Hawaii has delivered salvation to Brazil," the newspaper said.
Brazil's media also highlighted Medina's legion of fans that willed him to victory during final day of competition on the North Shore of Oahu.
"His rival, Mick Fanning, didn't attract even half the support that Medina had. He was swamped every time he went into the water to compete," Folha de S.Paulo said.
Sports celebrities and other public figures used social media to lavish praise on the prodigy from Sao Sebastiao, on the coast of Sao Paulo state.
President and footballers congratulate Medina
President Dilma Rousseff was among the first to post a message on Twitter.
"Congratulations for being the first Brazilian surfing world champion. The pride of Brazil," Rousseff wrote.
Brazil's national football captain and Barcelona forward Neymar posted a photo of himself alongside Medina with the words: "The best in the world! I am so happy for you. Congratulations. Enjoy this title. You deserve it so much."
Former AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder Kaka also expressed his delight on the social media platform.
"He is the champion! Congratulations Gabriel Medina," Kaka said.
