Gabriel Medina: 'Surfing needs a Brazilian world champion'

Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina has claimed that he wants to be crowned world champion for his country.

The 20-year-old is currently at the top of the rankings after beating Kelly Slater in the Billabong Pro Tahiti final last month.

"It's going to be great for Brazil, it's going to be great for surfing and it's going to be great for me," The AAP quotes Medina as saying. "I think we really need a Brazilian world champion."

Medina's next event is the eighth of the men's tour at Trestles, California.