Sally Fitzgibbons has charged her way through eight heats to win gold and make history, at the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico.
The 33-year-old fell into repechage in the last step before the grand final. Her individual gold medal win also helped secure bronze for team Australia.
Fitzgibbons defeated defending gold medalist Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) by 0.86 points to claim victory on a day of challenging conditions.
“Paddling out for that final, I had a really calm feeling wash over me,” she said.
“I knew that it was gonna take the bigger, taller sections and attacking surfing, and I had to find that in myself going toe to toe with opponents from Brazil and France that I’ve surfed with for 10 plus years on the world tour. There’s sometimes a lot of scar tissue of some instances where it’s just been so tight, and they’ve got me and pipped me at the post. Just to know that I still lean into that and it’s possible to win one back on them, that’s the exciting thing about surfing and why I still show up to the Games.”
Fitzgibbons made history by becoming the first athlete to ever earn individual gold four times at the World Surfing Games. She first accomplished the feat in 2008 before earning her second gold in 2018 and third in 2021.
She said she was spurred on by the Irukandjis team spirit.
“To navigate through and not have the best opportunities in terms of waves, it was all about the grit and the digging deep and hearing my team on the beach cheering and just that encouragement and belief everyone had around me.
“I just have an immense amount of pride thinking about the people I’m representing back home and everyone that’s put into my journey and my career. And then everyone’s doing the ring of fire and saying Aussie Aussie Aussie, it’s just crazy, the biggest shots of adrenaline through my system.
“It’s just topped off going to the closing ceremony and standing on top of the podium and hearing your anthem. That emotion wells up, the tears come out and it’s just that childhood dream you’re living out. That’s why I wake up every day and try and keep doing my process, so I have the opportunity to keep showing up and experiencing things like I did today. It’s a proud moment to be leaving Puerto Rico with the gold medal. And just stinging good efforts form everyone from coaching staff and Team Australia and I’m leaving here with very high spirits.”
Sally’s win wasn’t enough for Australia to secure the extra Paris 2024 Olympic Games slot, with Brazil taking out the team competition. If Weston-Webb had finished third in the final Australia would have won the team event – and with it an extra Olympic berth.
Current No.1 Molly Picklum and two-time world champion Tyler Wright were eliminated in the repechage in Puerto Rico after losing in the fourth round and third rounds respectively of the main draw.
Brazil’s Gabriel Medina won the men’s event to edge team France by 41 points for the additional Olympic quota spot, meaning his nation will be the only one to have a maximum contingent of six surfers at the Games.
The Australian men’s team finished fifth overall, with Ethan Ewing – who bowed out in the repechage after losing his round six heat – the best performer.
Women’s final results:
1st – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
13.10 (6.83 + 6.27)
2nd – Tatiana Weston Webb (BRA)
12.24 (6.77 + 5.47)
3rd – Johanne Defay (FRA)
12.00 (6.00 + 6.00)
4th – Nadia Erostarbe (ESP)
9.57 (4.90 + 4.67)
Final women’s team standings (top 5):
Brazil – 1755 pts
Australia – 1720 pts
Spain – 1495 pts
France -1460 pt
Peru – 1350 pts
Final men’s team standings (top 5):
Brazil – 1941 pts
France – 1900 pts
Spain – 1318 pts
Peru – 1270 pts
Australia – 1175 pts
Overall standings (top 5):
Brazil – 3696 pts
France – 3360 pts
Australia – 2895 pts
Spain – 2813 pts
Peru – 2620 pts
Full results and scores via the ISA website HERE.
Follow the Irukandjis HERE.
Surfing Australia is thankful for the support it has received from the Australian Government – through the Australian Sports Commission – to help enhance the Irukandjis medal chances at Paris 2024.
The Irukandjis are proudly presented by Hyundai.
About the Irukandjis:
The name ‘Irukandjis’ was generously gifted to Surfing Australia by the local Yirrganydji people of North Queensland, driven by the efforts of Indigenous athlete and former World Tour surfer, Soli Bailey.
‘The Irukandjis: Deadly in the Water,’ the team’s namesake and tagline, is inspired by the Irukandji jellyfish—an extremely venomous species that inhabits Australian marine waters.
Australian representatives across all surfing genres, including Junior, Open, Masters, Olympic, Longboard, Big Wave, Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), and Adaptive disciplines, compete under The Irukandjis’ national identity and united colours at international events such as the Olympics, ISA World Surfing Games, WSL World Juniors, and Longboard Championships.
Sally’s win wasn’t enough for Australia to secure the extra Paris 2024 Olympic Games slot, with Brazil the highest-ranking women’s team on the scoreboard at the end of the event.
Women’s final results:
1st – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
13.10 (6.83 + 6.27)
2nd – Tatiana Weston Webb (BRA)
12.24 (6.77 + 5.47)
3rd – Johanne Defay (FRA)
12.00 (6.00 + 6.00)
4th – Nadia Erostarbe (ESP)
9.57 (4.90 + 4.67)
Final women’s team standings (top 5):
Brazil – 1755 pts
Australia – 1720 pts
Spain – 1495 pts
France -1460 pts
Peru – 1350 pts
Full results and scores via the ISA website HERE.
Follow the Irukandjis HERE.
Surfing Australia is thankful for the support it has received from the Australian Government – through the Australian Sports Commission – to help enhance the Irukandjis medal chances at Paris 2024.
The Irukandjis are proudly presented by Hyundai.
About the Irukandjis:
The name ‘Irukandjis’ was generously gifted to Surfing Australia by the local Yirrganydji people of North Queensland, driven by the efforts of Indigenous athlete and former World Tour surfer, Soli Bailey.
‘The Irukandjis: Deadly in the Water,’ the team’s namesake and tagline, is inspired by the Irukandji jellyfish—an extremely venomous species that inhabits Australian marine waters.
Australian representatives across all surfing genres, including Junior, Open, Masters, Olympic, Longboard, Big Wave, Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP), and Adaptive disciplines, compete under The Irukandjis’ national identity and united colours at international events such as the Olympics, ISA World Surfing Games, WSL World Juniors, and Longboard Championships.
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