100 of the Most Influential Women in Sport >> Athletes

Stephanie Gilmore, Australia

Surfing

The Queensland native is used to the view from the top of the world. In November, Gilmore recorded her seventh world title win, taking her level with compatriot Layne Beachley on the all-time list of female champion surfers. But Gilmore’s journey to the top has been all the more impressive given the obstacles she has overcome along the way. In 2010, after winning a third world crown, she was assaulted with a metal bar while walking home. The horrific incident wiped Gilmore out of the sport for nearly 18 months as she battled physical and mental demons. Now with 30 World Tour wins, the Murwillumbah resident has entered the pantheon of surfing greats and continues to inspire young sports stars around the world with her commitment, dedication and overall influence in and out of the water. Still only 31, Gilmore is likely to surpass Beachley as the most successful women’s surfer but has played down suggestions that Kelly Slater’s record haul of 11 world titles could be a target. She is certainly riding waves to greatness and based on recent form is showing no signs of slowing down.

– Gilmore claimed her first world title in 2007 as a 19-year-old rookie – she was still at school when she entered, and won, her very first tour event two years prior.

– Growing up, one of Stephanie’s ambitions was to compete at the Olympics. She will have her chance when surfing debuts at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

– One of her favourites places to surf is the stunning Honolua Bay in Hawaii.

Did you know…

She is a collector of vintage guitars and regularly plays them in her free time away from training.

“Winning is euphoric, but it lasts a short time. You’ve got to lap it up, then move on to the next thing. I think I’ve kept winning because I haven’t attached myself to past successes.” – Stephanie Gilmore (Source: Surfer)

Twitter: @Steph_gilmore

Instagram: stephaniegilmore