Meanwhile, Barack Obama is beating Richard Branson at water sports in the British Virgin Islands
![Barack Obama.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ncp8wseuGasKHFsfJZuV7C-415-80.png)
President Trump might be promising to "win" for America, but former President Barack Obama is the one actively proving the prowess of the United States — at least in water sports. After vacating the White House, Obama made his way to the British Virgin Islands for an aquatic showdown against British billionaire Richard Branson.
The challenge: Could Obama learn to kitesurf before Branson learned to foilboard? Branson recounted the competition at Virgin:
… Barack and I both fell many times, but we kept trying again and again and made progress over the days. We were neck and neck until the last run on the last day, when I got up on the foilboard and screamed along for over 50 metres, three feet above the water. I was feeling very pleased with myself, only to look over and see Barack go 100 metres on his kiteboard! I had to doff my cap to him and celebrate his victory. [Virgin]
Watch clips of the competition below via CNN, and read Branson's entire account here. Jeva Lange
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![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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