Paris 2024 Olympics: Young star Molly Picklum is riding the wave of Australia's next female surfing generation
Molly Picklum had no shortage of female role models growing up as a surfer in Australia.
Eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore and four-time ISA World Surfing Games champion Sally Fitzgibbons were among her biggest idols. She had watched them compete at Tokyo 2020 where the sport made its Olympic debut.
Now, three years later, the two Australian surfing legends are sending the youngster good wishes for her first Olympic adventure.
Picklum secured a quota to Paris 2024 as one of the two highest-ranked Australian women in the WSL Championship Tour last season, together with two-time world champion Tyler Wright, and is now Australia’s top hope for a first Olympic female surfing medal.
“It's really hard to put into words what it means to become an Olympian,” Picklum told Olympics.com. “Especially that year, I was up against Sally, Steph, Tyler, the greats and my idols when I was growing up, so… qualifying for the Olympics, felt quite far away for me. But then all of a sudden it was a dream come true.”
Molly Picklum’s two priorities: Surfing and school
One of the biggest stars of the next surfing generation, Picklum is known for her power and fearlessness on the waves.
The New South Wales native was so young when she first got “plonked on a board” that she does not remember it. There are only photos as proof.
And while Picklum has tried other sports as well – namely, touch football - surfing held the ultimate allure.
“When I was young, I used to play a lot of football as well and I got bored, and the ocean just kept it so interesting for me,” Picklum said. “It felt like it was something new every time I'd paddle out there. It was just like endless endeavour of waves and I think that's what most interests me about surfing.”
Picklum eventually entered a talent identification programme where she continued to hone her craft. Being recognised with the Layne Beachley Rising Star Award at 14 years old was a turning point.
“I remember being given a Rising Star award, and then that made me think, whoa, OK, if I'm up there with one of the best in Australia - Australia's a pretty strong country for surfing - so maybe I should give this thing a go,” Picklum said.
When the swell was good, even an abundance of schoolwork could not keep Picklum away. Now 21 years old, the surfer laughs recalling the days when she would procure doctor’s certificates to get out of class and jump into the waves, fully aware that she was not fooling anyone.
“I have some funny stories of the waves pumping and you get a doctor's certificate and you're like, ‘Oh, this is my reasoning’,” Picklum said. “The people at the school knew what I was up to, but the educator, the higher up guys were like, ‘It's OK. Here's the doctor certificate. She's too hydrated’.”
Make no mistake about it though, Picklum was serious about her studies. Both surfing and schoolwork were priorities growing up and she balanced the two as best she could thanks to the help of understanding teachers – and surf trip luggage overflowing with textbooks and school notes.
In 2020, Picklum got her due reward when she received her school diploma. The following year she was already jetting around the world, from California and Hawaii to France and Portugal for the Challenger Series.
“School and surfing, it was a huge part of my life when I was growing up because it was two huge priorities for me. I really wanted to finish school and I remember I just had such good teachers around me, such good educators who would help and work with me to try and make it work,” Picklum said. “I'm really proud of myself for finishing school.”
Molly Picklum: Joining the ranks of the Australian greats
Gilmore, Fitzgibbons, Wright… all of these names now have an Olympic story behind them.
Sally Fitzgibbons and Stephanie Gilmore took part in the women’s competition at Tokyo 2020, finishing fifth and ninth, respectively. While Tyler Wright missed out on the Games, her family name still had a presence as older brother Owen Wright won bronze in the men’s event.
For Picklum – affectionately called “Pickles” in the surfing world – these women have long been examples to emulate.
“Steph and Sally, Tyler, as a young Australian growing up, we had some really good role models,” Picklum said. “They all surfed for the right reasons, and they're all good people at heart so I'm really fortunate to the people that I looked up to when I was growing up.”
So, what are those right reasons to surf?
“I mean, any reason to surf,” Picklum said with a laugh. “I feel like the right reason is just because you love it and you share something that all the ocean lovers share.”
Picklum shares that love for the ocean with her idols and, recently, she is sharing the spotlight they have long enjoyed as well.
The Australian youngster wasted no time getting noticed on the WSL Championship Tour when she made her debut in 2022 with two Top 5 finishes. Although the mid-year cut ended her season short, she fought back through the Challenger Series and re-qualified.
In 2023, she returned to the Tour with even more drive than before. Picklum earned her first CT victory, at Sunset Beach, was runner-up twice and never finished below fifth place throughout the season. This also earned her a coveted spot in the Final Five.
She defended her Sunset Pro crown in 2024 and heads to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games ranked fourth in the world.
While this success has meant extra pressure, Picklum says it does not intimidate her – a testament to the hard work she has done on the mental side, including listening to podcasts, talking to sports psychologists and meditating.
“It's no pressure because I feel like if it's any external pressure, it's no more than what I put on myself personally,” Picklum said. “Nonetheless, it motivates me. I feel like I want to do Australia super proud and it's just a good motivator for myself.”
Molly Picklum surfs Teahupo'o in a training session ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Picklum x Teahupo’o: A stage to sparkle
Molly Picklum’s next big stage will be Teahupo’o. She knows the wave well and has finished fifth at Tahiti Pro for two consecutive years in the lead up to the Olympics.
She has also enjoyed great success on other big barrels, Sunset and Pipeline, this season. The semi-finals at Pipeline Pro saw Picklum drop the first-ever 10-point ride for a female surfer on the Hawaiian behemoth. It was soon called the “best-ever women’s heat” on the Championship Tour.
“Ten points, I love it,” an elated Picklum said after her historic ride. “I want more.”
Days later, she almost made that wish come true. Scoring 9.67 in her semi-final heat at Sunset Pro, Picklum went on to win the event and become the first female surfer to win back-to-back at Sunset since Australia's Layne Beachley who achieved this feat in 1999 and 2000.
Picklum will now be trying to become the first female Australian surfer to climb the Olympic podium, and the full significance of that is not lost on her.
“As a surfer representing Australia, it means the world,” she said. “It's everything I've ever dreamed of. I think we're so fortunate to live in Australia. We have beautiful beaches, the surf industry in Australia is amazing and to do them proud would mean a lot.”