Italo Ferreira Just Showed Up With Nine Minutes Left In His ISA World Games Heat And Won On Filipe’s Board While Wearing Jorts

Do you remember a few days ago, when we reported on Italo Ferreira losing his passport in California, and how that could cause him to miss the ISA World Games in Miyazaki, Japan?

And do also remember how just one or two days later, Italo revealed on his IG story that he might be able to get there just in the knick of time with a temporary passport and visa?

Well, all of this came to fruition today in the most spectacular of fashions, but we’ll let the WSL’s Instagram post take it from here. 

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A post shared by World Surf League (@wsl)

Their caption reads:

Late for his heat at @isasurfingWorld Games in Miyazaki, Japan after his passport was stolen in Los Angeles, @italoferreira went straight from the airport to the event, borrowed @filipetoledo’s board, paddled out in jean shorts with less than 9 minutes remaining, had last priority, and won the heat.

And wow, right?

Italo replied, simply: Cafe demais (Too much coffee), followed by laughy face, fire, wink, and peace sign emojis. 

Then, on his own Instagram, Italo told the full story:

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A post shared by Italo Ferreira (@italoferreira)

Italo’s caption, via Google Translate, reads:

If you have a minute, read the text below and reflect with me on everything that has happened in the last few days. You can turn this story into something positive for your life. I was robbed 4 days ago in the United States. In my backpack, which they carried, I had some personal belongings and the most important document for a person traveling and not even able to speak the local language perfectly: the passport. This was me. Not knowing where to go, and on the same day I had a scheduled flight to Japan to compete in an essential world event in search of a place at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The day after the theft, I had help from some people from Brazil, the United States, and even Japan. They tried to help me with a new passport, a Japanese visa, and the most difficult one: the American visa. All the information said it was best for me to leave the United States to redo everything (make an appointment, schedule an appointment, etc.) at the American Consulate. So I left the United States on September 8 and embarked for Tokyo, with an interview scheduled for the following day, 09. It all seemed normal, but MY FLIGHT DELAYED BECAUSE OF A HURRICANE – I even stayed 18 hours on the plane. That is, I would not be able to arrive in time for the interview at the consulate in Japan. So I rescheduled for 8:30 on September 10, the first day of the competition, not sure that the visa would be approved. I was confident and happy, even after all, just coming to Japan. The visa was approved, I left my passport at the American Consulate and started another mission. I rushed to Tokyo Airport for the first flight to the city where I would compete. My heat was 6th in Round 1, but the event was delayed 1 hour and this gave me a small chance of getting to “time.” When I landed at the airport, I ran: I dropped my bags and went straight to the car of the Brazilian committee that was waiting for me. My heat had already started and it took 10 minutes from the airport to the beach.

Arriving at the podium, 9 minutes left for my heat to run out. I entered the water with the last priority, borrowed board and needing a combination of 12 points to advance. So far everything was going “OK,” because I “just” needed to surf and do what I love most in a short time.

Looking back, I had everything to go wrong with so much going on, but I always had hope until the end. This for me was a story of overcoming, even though it is a championship that does not “count” for the classification of the Olympics because I am seeking my classification by the WSL ranking. I had to be in Japan otherwise I missed the chance and could make myself illegible to the job.

I love surfing and I try my best to perform well underwater and even in the most difficult times I seek strength in God and go up.

There’s a lot to roll over there, but for me, getting here has been a victory.

So if you have a problem in your life, DO NOT GIVE UP. BELIEVE! In the end, it will be all right, just believe it is possible.

And that’s how you transcend legend status into full-blown lord-dom.