Fourteen years is the time Jérémy Flores will have spent on the professional circuit before ending his career.
The French surfer announced the news on Monday in an Instagram post: “I'm not retiring, I'm moving on, a new chapter.
The Habs, 9th at the Tokyo Olympics, should surf their last waves during the final round of the season in Tahiti, after a stint in Mexico.
25th in the standings, Flores has virtually no chance of qualifying for the end-of-season playoffs in September at Trestles.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jeremy Flores (@floresjeremy)
At 33, the French surfer has toured his sports career and wants to focus fully on those close to him.
“I have dedicated my whole life to my competitive career, Ups and downs but always thoroughly.
Unforgettable moments, remembers Jérémy Flores on Instagram.
Since I became a dad my priorities have completely changed, I want to be 100% there for my family.
In recent years, I haven't put enough effort into my preparation.
I no longer had this resentment.
"
15 seasons at the highest level
The Reunionese began his career in 2007 with a title of “Rookie of The Year”. 15 seasons later, the Frenchman will have left his mark in the history of surfing, notably winning twice at the Pipe Masters in Hawaii, the most prestigious competition on the pro circuit. Another symbolic victory, that of Pro France in Hossegor in 2019. After running after his entire career, Jérémy Flores had finally achieved his dream by winning in front of the French public, in a trance.
The most successful European surfer in history has sometimes shown an atypical character.
Far from having his tongue in his pocket in a little publicized environment, the Frenchman was suspended in 2014. A behavior that Flores does not regret: "I tried to stay true, as much as possible all these years, sometimes a little too much even.
It may have played tricks on me but it was still worth it.
If someone had told me when I was a kid the life I would have, the successes, I probably wouldn't have believed it.
"
His last stint in front of the whole world will remain a 9th place at the Tokyo Olympics, for the first participation of surfing at the Olympic Games.
He had marked the event by being the first to place the famous tube on the Dantesque waves of Tsurigasaki.
The opportunity to say goodbye to the wider world.