GILMORE Stephanie

Preferred stance
Regular (worldsurfleague.com, 2019)

General
MATCHING THE BEST
In 2018 she won her seventh world title, equalling fellow Australian Layne Beachley for the most women's world titles. She said that equalling the men's record of 11 all-time world titles, set by US surfer Kelly Slater, is not on her mind. "I hate that question. I'm just going to lap up [enjoy] seven. It's an honour to sit alongside Layne [Beachley]. [She has] been a huge inspiration for my entire career and for so many female surfers all around the world. To equal [her] is amazing. What an honour." (abc.net.au, 27 Nov 2018; theguardian.com, 27 Nov 2018)

EQUAL PRIZE MONEY
She worked with the World Surf League [WSL] to make prize money equal between male and female surfers in 2018. "When men and women are crowned champions and they stand on the podium together and they have an equal prize check, that's so up front and centre for everybody to see that this should be normal. It's [about] not being afraid to just stand up and use your voice for something and I've always been pretty quiet on that part. I think for [the WSL], it was just a matter of righting a wrong." (elle.com, 03 Apr 2019)

ATTACK
In 2010 she was attacked at random outside her home in Coolangatta, QLD, Australia by a man with a crowbar. She suffered a broken arm and head injuries and said the psychological effects of the incident affected her for the next year. "By the time I got to the hospital, half of Coolangatta was out searching for the guy. He must have been crazy because he came back to the area and they caught him. The police took it from there. I knew I would heal, but [my concern was] more emotional than physical. It was as if I slept for an entire year. Time goes on. You heal. You start being able to talk about it without wanting to cry." (surfer.com, 06 Aug 2014; marieclaire.com, 01 Aug 2014; dailymail.co.uk, 25 Nov 2018)

In 2018 she won her seventh world title, equalling fellow Australian Layne Beachley for the most women's world titles. (abc.net.au, 27 Nov 2018)

In 2007 she became the first surfer, male or female, to win a world title in their debut season on the Championship Tour. (worldsurfleague.com, 2020; boardsportsource.com, 16 Sep 2019)