Gilmore takes world title

Stephanie Gilmore has made sporting history at the Maui Pro, taking her seventh World Surfing Championship and equalling the long-standing record of fellow Australian Layne Beachley.

It was the first world title for Gilmore since 2014, but at the ripe old age of just 30, it’s impossible to know just what the gifted Australian is capable of in her career.

Her confirmation as World Championship came when her own only challenger, American Lakey Peterson, failed to progress past the second round in Hawaii, leaving Gilmore with an unassailable lead in the 2018 WSL Championship.

“It’s an honour to sit alongside you, Layne [Beachley],” Gilmore said of the victory. “You’ve been a huge inspiration for my entire career and for so many female surfers all round the world. To equal you is amazing. What an honour.”

Beachley congratulated the new champion via Twitter saying:

“Seven world title wins establishes her as one of the greatest athletes of all time! No one deserves it more than Steph and I am extremely proud of her.”

Gilmore, recently named as a global Audi ambassador, has been the form surfer on the women’s WSL tour this year, with wins at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, the Oi Rio Pro in Brazil and the J-Bay Open in South Africa, and with a strong opening salvo in Maui, she will be looking to extend that tally to four for the year and put the icing on top of what has been a stellar year.