Europe's own Johanne Defay and her charge atop the podium at the 2024 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal

But then, Joe, right behind her, again, right where she needs to be. See how the board's going vertical on those sections and finding a placement where, you know, that the critical part of the wave she utilized and Lakey didn't utilize it on her wave. She had to wait for the end of it. And Joanne's going straight to the critical part of the wave. And that's where the score is going to drop in. She's going to be in a commanding lead after that score drops right there. Yeah, it feels like every exchange is going Joanne's way. In semi-final two, American Lakey Peterson takes on France's Joanne Defe. Let's check out two more powerhouses, two of the most powerful women on tour. Joe, right where she needs to be. See how the board's going vertical on those sections. And Joanne's going straight to the critical part of the wave. Number four, Defe, seven, six, seven. Joanne Defe, absolutely relentless stuff from her. She's just nailing these laps, hammering them. Another improvement there. Six, eight, seven. I do think that she can get back in this game. She goes with some speed here, puts that float up, sets up nicely. Good crack from her on the backhands. And again, sweet turn right there, giving herself an opportunity. Joanne Defe is three minutes away from a final here in Portugal. Félicitations to Joanne Defe. Her family are absolutely delighted here, the French and Euro crew. For Joanne Defe, this is her opportunity to show that she is all the way back. For Joanne Defe, there is no place like home, especially when it's a true paradise like Reunion Island. Really cool, tropical life, you know, being barefoot all the time, beach time every time after school. I think it was a pretty simple life. I think I've always been like feeling great in the water and in the ocean. Did some boogie board when I was like a baby. Started surfing when I was seven, eight years old. Yeah, I haven't stopped. The 2016 Fiji Pro title goes to Joanne Defe. 2018 champion of the Uluwatu CT, Joanne Defe. Joanne taking on Tyler Wright for a chance to win this event, both of them for the very first time. Good connection there for Joanne Defe. That's what makes her so special in her backhand. So her best wave so far. We see here, Tyler. Probably the best wave that we saw in the heat, but she was unable to capitalize on it. Joanne Defe loves when something big is on the line. A final right now, a big hack there, and she will control it through a wild closeout section. That was crazy. That was. Water up. That's how reliable that backhand is. A bomb, though, setting up for Tyler. Double overhead on the takeoff and drills it in the pocket. No. Oh, that would have been a massive score. It's official. Joanne Defe is the champion of the Mayo Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona and now moves up to number two in the world. Wow, that's overwhelming. I worked hard and just to prove that my injury was like, didn't like put me out of my career or something. So just, yeah, I'm so, so happy.