Kolohe Andino poses for a portrait during the Team USA Tokyo 2020 Olympics shoot on Nov. 20, 2019 in West Hollywood, Calif.
Should she follow her dad and grandfather into the family business, expect to see Noelle Andino riding waves and topping podiums in the not-too-distant future.
Surfer Kolohe Andino and his wife Madison welcomed little Noelle to the world on Dec. 2., the Olympian announced Tuesday on Instagram. Noelle is the first child for the Andinos, who have been married since 2018.
“Noelle Rose Andino 12.02.21,” Andino wrote in the post, “the cutest thing to ever live🤍
Our little nugget forever @madison_andino !!!”
Surfing was something passed down to Andino from his father Dino, also a pro surfer. Young Kolohe was able to surf some of the world’s best waves while following his dad around on tour and also closer to home in San Clemente, California. Andino became a regular on the World Surf League’s Men’s Championship Tour by the age of 18.
Now 27, Andino finished 2019 as the No. 5 surfer on tour, qualifying him for the debut of surfing at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. After the Games were postponed to 2021, Andino very nearly missed his Olympic debut after suffering an ankle injury early in the tour season. What followed were three months of rehab, ensuring Andino was ready for Tokyo despite competing in no tour events leading up to the Games.
In Tokyo, Andino advanced to the quarterfinals but was defeated by Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi, who went on to win the silver medal. Andino was the best finisher in the U.S. men’s field.
Todd Kortemeier #
Todd Kortemeier is a sportswriter, editor and children’s book author from Minneapolis. He is a contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.