Sydney – Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore has made surfing history, becoming the first woman to win eight world titles.
Gilmore surfed her way through the field to claim a record-breaking eighth world title, overcoming American five-times world champion Carissa Moore in the final in Southern California.
The stylish Gilmore, who honed her surfing on the pointbreaks of Australia’s Gold Coast, made the most of the deteriorating conditions at the venue of Lower Trestles, Southern California’s premier cobblestone pointbreak.
Gilmore, 34, had to battle through a series of head-to-head matches for a chance at the best-of-three title decider, overcoming Brisa Hennessy from Costa Rica, Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb and France’s Johanne Defay.
“I don’t have much left to be honest,” an emotional Gilmore said according to Reuters. “I visualised it so much, I was like ‘Let’s do this, I have a chance'”.
Moore, the top seed after the 10-stop world tour, progressed directly to the final but the 2021 world champion and surfing’s first Olympic gold medallist struggled to find the waves to unleash her powerful turns.
The win confirmed Gilmore as the most successful women’s professional surfer ever, breaking her tie with countrywoman Layne Beachley who won seven world titles in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
While Gilmore shone, compatriots Ethan Ewing and Jack Robinson fell to Brazilian Italo Ferreira, who was facing compatriot Filipe Toledo to decide the men’s world title.
Gilmore easily beat Johanne Defay of France 16.83 to 10.53, putting her into the title decider against Moore.
But she had to come from behind to win her first two matches.
After her opening last-gasp win over Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy, Gilmore then narrowly beat Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb.
With just 40 seconds left, Gilmore posted a 6.83 for a heat total of 14.76 to eliminate Hennessy, who scored 14.33.
Gilmore also trailed Weston-Webb, but took the lead with 10 minutes left.
Weston-Webb needed a 7.31 to beat Gilmore and they traded waves inside the last two minutes.
The Brazilian scored a 6.8, meaning Gilmore won 15.30 to 14.87.
Gilmore, the No.5 seed, struggled early against Hennessy with a couple of falls.
Hennessy took the initiative in the clean two-metre conditions with 7.0 and 7.33 wave scores to lead Gilmore by 14.33 to 6.67.
But with 12 minutes left, the Australian scored a 7.93 to put herself back into the contest.
Needing a 6.40 to win, Gilmore did not have priority inside the last two minutes.
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