Eight-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore will not compete at Paris 2024 after deciding to sit out upcoming season
On the heels of Olympic champion Carissa Moore’s announcement last week, Gilmore confirmed that she will also be absent from the 2024 season that includes the next Olympic Games. “I am planning to take this tour season off as a refresh," she said.
Surfing
Two of the greatest female surfers of all time will be absent from the 2024 WSL Championship Tour.
Eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore posted on Instagram on 23 January that she would be taking one year off from the tour, but plans to return to competition in 2025. Her absence from the 2024 season means she will not compete at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
The Australian surfer has more world titles than any female in history and has been competing on the tour since her rookie year in 2007, where she became the first rookie - male or female - to ever win a world title.
The news came just four days after Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion Carissa Moore posted an Instagram video announcing that she was pulling out of the 2024 tour and stepping away from competitive surfing as a whole after the next Olympics.
The pair have dominated the world of female surfing for over the last decade and a half, taking 13 world titles between them.
By no means is Gilmore taking a year away from surfing — she will still be chasing the swell and “free surfing in new places.”
On her Instagram, she wrote: “I am planning to take this tour season off as a refresh for myself physically, mentally, and to enjoy following swells and free surfing in new places. I have some projects and trips I want to do, which haven’t been possible while traveling for the tour season.
“I am still passionate and dedicated to competing, and I have goals and dreams that I am still chasing - I’m excited for something fresh this year and I look forward to returning to competition in 2025.”
With 2024 being an Olympic year, Gilmore will miss surfing's second-ever Olympic Games. At Tokyo 2020, she tied for ninth place.
This year, the sport is set to take place on the legendary wave of Teahupo'o in Tahiti, French Polynesia.
Stephanie Gilmore surfs during a training session ahead of the 2022 Rip Curl WSL Finals.
The absence of the two legendary surfers makes room for the generation quickly climbing their way to greatness, including 18-year-old Caity Simmers and fellow Australian Molly Picklum to shine.
Both young powerhouses finished in the final five of the 2023 Tour, but were unable to overcome eventual champion Caroline Marks.
The WSL announced that with Gilmore’s absence, the open spot on tour will be filled by Brazilian surfer Luana Silva.