Florence Skips 2027 World Tour, Likely Misses Olympics
The three-time world champion will not seek a wild card entry for the 2027 surfing season, a decision that all but rules him out of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Surfing
John John Florence did not seek a wild card entry for the World Surf League tour by the November 1 deadline, meaning he will not compete on the 2027 world tour. The decision effectively takes him out of contention for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Why it matters
Florence represented the United States at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and Team USA selects athletes using world tour rankings, so his absence removes a top name from the qualification picture. The move reflects a choice to take the next stretch of his career in shorter, more deliberate blocks.
Florence must be highly ranked on the 2027 world tour and into 2028 to qualify, since Team USA uses world tour rankings to select International Surfing Association competitors. He is 34 and has three world titles, but he has been away from the tour for two years while sailing with his family.
The players
John John Florence
A Hawaii-born surfer and three-time WSL world champion who won the Olympic-era competitions for the United States in Tokyo and Paris.
World Surf League
The professional surfing organization that runs the world championship tour and sets the wild card and ranking rules for its athletes.
The details
Florence told ESPN he is hoping for an event wild card for the season finale at Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore next month. He said he tries to take things in three-year blocks, needs more time, and does not want to take a spot if his mind is not fully in the competition.
Timeline
November 1, 2026: Deadline for WSL season wild card requests passed without Florence applying.
December 2026: Season finale at Pipeline, where Florence hopes to earn a wild card.
2027: Florence will not compete on the WSL world tour.
2028: Los Angeles Olympic Games, for which Florence is ruled out.
Season Trajectory
Florence's absence from the 2027 tour removes one of the most decorated American surfers from the rankings that shape the country's Olympic roster. It extends the two-year break that followed his 2024 world championship, leaving the U.S. men's Olympic picture without one of its most proven competitors.
Fans tracking the U.S. Olympic surfing picture should watch the 2027 world tour rankings, since Team USA selects athletes from them. Florence's absence means his name will not appear on the 2027 leaderboard unless an event wild card changes the picture.
The takeaway
Careers at the top of pro surfing can be paced in blocks, not just seasons. Florence's choice shows that stepping away can be a deliberate way to protect focus, even when an Olympic path is on the line.
What happens next
The Pipeline season finale in December 2026 will show whether Florence receives an event wild card for the final stop of the season.
Further reading
Explore more surfing news to follow the world tour and Olympic qualification race.
