Why Molly Picklum's first win in 18 months sets up a golden world title shot

The Age

29-06-2025

An 'emotional' Molly Picklum has claimed her first Championship Tour victory in almost 18 months to shoot to world No.1 and set up the best title tilt of her career.
Australia's highest-ranked surfer was in rare spirits after a breakthrough win in Brazil's Rio Pro overnight, screaming with abandon and accidentally smacking a friend in the face as she was chaired up the beach at Saquarema.
Molly Picklum celebrates her breakthrough win in Brazil. Credit: World Surf League
Picklum has been the most consistent surfer of 2025 with two runners-up finishes and another three third places from eight events, but hadn't claimed a tour victory since last February.
The 22-year-old Central Coast native has regularly claimed the world No.1 leader's jersey early on in recent seasons before tapering off come finals time, but her Rio Pro victory over Brazil's Luana Silva heralds a reversal in Picklum's usual tour narrative.