Griffin Colapinto's thoughts and emotions are much like the waves he surfs: they rise and fall, sometimes flowing with him while other times trying to crash against his mental state.
But the California native couldn't be feeling better mentally as he looks ahead to his first Olympics, where he will be one of four Team USA surfers traveling to Tahiti to compete against the world's best.
“I feel really good,” Colapinto told Fox News Digital. “I feel like this year, the last few years, every year I've had to face a lot of challenges and I think I've done everything I can to overcome them. At the time, they were very difficult.”
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Griffin Colapinto of the United States is pictured before surfing in the semifinals of the VIVO Rio Pro on June 28, 2024, in Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Thiago Diz/World Surf League via Getty Images)
Pressure is in the job description of a professional athlete, no matter the area of expertise.
For Colapinto, dealing with that mental pressure can be a challenge, but there are other times when he says he can get in the water.
“Sometimes I'll go out and suddenly go into a state of flow,” he explained. “Or I'll be challenged by a lot of different thoughts coming at me. It's basically about being able to be aware of that and using that to be more present.”
Looking ahead to the Olympics, Colapinto knows he needs to keep his mental state focused as much as possible. And that “flow state” he quickly finds in the water can lead to choosing the right waves to surf in Tahiti, where the Olympic surfing competition will be held.
U.S. OLYMPIC SURFERS GRIFFIN COLAPINTO AND JOHN JOHN FLORENCE OBSERVE THE TAHITIAN SWELLS UP CLOSE DURING WSL EVENT
Colapinto's recent trip to French Polynesia wasn't the best, however, as he was quickly eliminated from his World Surf League event earlier this year.
“Last time I was in Tahiti, I ended up losing to the wildcard in the second round, which is the earliest you can lose in the event,” he said. “I lost to the wildcard and I was really bummed because I prepared so much, worked so hard for that wave, and I did it for so long. It just didn't materialize.”
“In the past, things haven't gone my way, but I feel like I've learned a lot every time things haven't gone my way. So I feel like everything that's happened to me is leading me to this moment at the Olympics.”
Colapinto may have lost, but he learned how the waves work in Tahiti, and here's how he explained it.
Griffin Colapinto of the United States surfs at the Outerknown Tahiti Pro on August 18, 2022, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, French Polynesia. (Damien Poullenot/World Surf League)
“The heat I ended up losing there, the swell was getting higher all day, and it was between the first and second ledge,” he said. “It was like a weird game of, 'Do you sit further in or further out?' The surfer I was up against was an expert on the first ledge, and most of the waves in that heat were coming over that first ledge. Right when that heat ended, the waves got bigger and went over that second ledge the rest of the day.
“I lost because I made a gesture that I wasn't sure was good, and it turned out to be really good, and he got the score. It's moments like that that will stay in the memory.” [memory] bank. I can go there at the Olympics.”
Colapinto will try to tap into his memory bank next month, which will require good mental fitness, something he and his surfing brother Crosby Colapinto have worked on together.
“I started getting interested in mental health through surfing, obviously, and being a professional surfer,” Colapinto said. “Just chasing a dream, chasing something that's so challenging, you're going to face tough times along the way. From there, I started journaling, meditating, and reading books. I ended up creating my own system of tools to help me on my path, and journaling was really cool.”
Because of her own experience with mental health, Colapinto applied to be one of 20 athletes chosen for a grant from Athlete for Good, a joint initiative with Proctor & Gamble, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee that donated $24,000 each to support causes championed by the recipient athletes.
Griffin Colapinto of the United States is pictured before surfing in the round of 16 of the VIVO Rio Pro on June 27, 2024, in Saquarema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Thiago Diz/World Surf League via Getty Images)
Colapinto's chosen charity was To Write Love on Her Arms, a nonprofit dedicated to providing hope and finding help for people struggling with mental health issues, addictions and more.
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“We are very fortunate to be in the positions we are in and to live wonderful lives,” Colapinto said when asked how important this initiative was to him. “The best thing we can do is pass it on to the people around us and anyone who looks up to us. Set an example and be the best person we can be. Don't be afraid to share our secrets about what we've learned along the way because we're all going through similar tough times and it helps a lot to be able to relate to each other.”
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