Eight-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmour of Australia is retiring for the 2024 season, including the Olympics.
„I plan to spend this tour season freshening up physically, mentally and enjoying constant swells and free surfing in new places,” he posted on social media. “There are certain projects and trips I want to do that are not possible during the tour season. I'm still passionate and committed to competing, and I still have goals and dreams I'm chasing – I'm excited to do something new this year and look forward to returning to competition in 2025.
Gilmour, 35, won a record eighth women's world title in 2022 and then a sixth on the World Surf League Tour in 2023.
She finished third among Australians – behind Tyler Wright and Molly Biglum – and missed out on an Olympic spot because a country can qualify a maximum of two surfers per gender through the 2023 WSL stages.
Australia could secure a third Olympic women's berth if they win next month's World Surfing Games team event, but Gilmour's decision this season will also include the Olympics, a representative said on Tuesday night.
In surfing's Olympic debut in Tokyo, Gilmour had a high score in the heats and then was upset in the first round of head-to-head competition.
Carissa Moore, second among active women with five world titles, announced last week that she has a limited competition schedule in 2024 but plans to compete in the Olympics.