{{Short description|Japanese surfer (born 1998)}} {{use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox surfer | name = Mahina Maeda | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|02|15|df=y}} | birth_place = | height = | weight = | major_achievements = Qualification for 2020 Summer Olympics | show-medals = no | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's surfing}} {{Medal|Country|{{JPN}}}} {{MedalCompetition| World Games}} {{MedalSilver| 2021 Miyazaki|Team}} {{MedalBronze| 2019 Miyazaki|Team}} }}
'''Mahina Maeda''' (前田マヒナ, ''Maeda Mahina'', born 15 February 1998) is a Japanese professional surfer who competes in the World Surf League.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surfing - MAEDA Mahina |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/surfing/athlete-profile-n1388595-maeda-mahina.htm |access-date=2021-07-27 |work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |language=en-us |archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727174111/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/surfing/athlete-profile-n1388595-maeda-mahina.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> She is a three time junior World champion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hohenberg |first=Alexa |date=2020-07-07 |title=Mahina Maeda Interview: Pro surfer and Olympic hopeful | Interviews |url=https://www.stillstoked.com/inspire-me/mahina-maeda-interview/ |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=StillStoked.com |language=en-us}}</ref> She represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics as Hawaii was not recognized as a member of the International Olympic Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-02 |title=Mahina Maeda proud to represent Hawai'i, surfing, and Japan in the sport's debut at the Olympics in Tokyo |url=https://www.khon2.com/sports/mahina-maeda-proud-to-represent-hawaii-surfing-and-japan-in-the-sports-debut-at-the-olympics-in-tokyo/ |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=KHON2.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Biography == Maeda was born to Japanese parents in the United States and was raised in the North Shore of Oahu. She holds American and Japanese dual citizenship. Prior to the 2020 Summer Olympics, she represented Hawaii at international surf competitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet: Mahina Maeda One of the Youngest Women to Surf Nazare and a Ripper Unafraid to Take Scalps - Magicseaweed |url=https://magicseaweed.com/news/meet-mahina-maeda-one-of-the-youngest-women-to-surf-nazare/11990/ |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=Magicseaweed.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Career == She won her first WSL world junior title at the age of 16 in Portugal. She became one of the youngest women to have surfed Nazare. She qualified to the 2020 Summer Olympics following her performance at the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Qualifying for Tokyo 2020: How does it work? |url=https://www.isasurf.org/tokyo-2020-qualification/ |website=ISA |accessdate=2021-07-27}}</ref>
She represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, which also marked her debut appearance at the Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lum |first=Stephanie |title=Meet the 'fearless' Hawaii surfer representing Team Japan in the Tokyo Olympics |url=https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2021/06/25/meet-fearless-hawaii-surfer-representing-team-japan-tokyo-olympics/ |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=stillstoked.com |date=25 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> She was eliminated in round 3 of the women's shortboard event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surfing - Women Schedule |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/surfing/event-schedule-women.htm |access-date=2021-07-27 |work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |language=en-us |archive-date=26 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726135929/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/surfing/event-schedule-women.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{World Surf League|3968<!-- /mahina-maeda -->}} * {{Olympics.com|mahina-maeda}} * {{Olympedia}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Maeda, Mahina}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:American surfers Category:Japanese surfers Category:World Surf League surfers Category:Surfers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic surfers for Japan Category:People from Oahu Category:Surfers from Honolulu County, Hawaii Category:American people of Japanese descent Category:Sportspeople of Japanese descent Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:21st-century Japanese sportswomen Category:American female surfers