Gilmore nails fifth Maui classic

Australian surfing great and Audi ambassador, Steph Gilmore has pulled off a spectacular win in Hawaii this week to round out her 2019 season on WSL tour (World Surf League). Gilmore beat out fellow Aussie, Tyler Wright, to take the win – her fifth in the Maui classic – seeing her end this year’s season in fourth position outright on the championship ladder.

Although 2019 didn’t see another championship for the seven-time world champ, Gilmore was nonetheless thrilled with the victory and season in general, and is already looking to next year to reload and go again.

“I found myself sitting there in good positions in the lead next to these girls and it just brought back these thrilling feelings and memories of being in World Title races,” Gilmore told the WSL. “There is so much on the line and I think I just kicked into a new gear. Amazing event and year for everybody. And, of course, it is so good to have Tyler back [after a long illness]. I could not have thought of a better person to share the Final with. She is surfing better than ever so I cannot wait to see her next year and sure you will be as dangerous as ever.” 

The win was Gilmore’s 31st career victory and automatically qualifies her for a spot in next year’s Tokyo Olympics, which will see surfing introduced for the first time. She and Sally Fitzgibbons will represent Australia at The Games next June, and Gilmore is already counting down the days with an eye fixed firmly on the chance to add a gold medal to her impressive tally.

“Congratulations to all the girls and to all the Olympians. See you in Tokyo. This has been a monumental year for us with equal prize money. It has done so much more for women in sport, and women in all kinds of industries in the workplace around the world, to show people what should be normal, that equality should be normal. I am really proud to be a part of that and to have the WSL lead the way in that way. That is really special.”