Eight-time world surfing champ Stephanie Gilmore will end her exile at Gold Coast Pro
Gilmore, an eight-time world champion who stepped away before the start of the 2024 season, has been given a wildcard into the event, which she has won six times.
The 37-year-old last competed in August 2023, having taken the 2024 season off to focus on her mental health, touring the world surfing.
She was expected to return in 2025 but opted to extend her time away from competition.
But confirming she'll start at Burleigh Heads, her home territory where the event is back on the schedule for the first time since 2019, Gilmore said that was enough to lure her back for the action this weekend.
'I'm super excited to have this opportunity to get back in the jersey for the CT's return to the Gold Coast,' Gilmore said.
The 8x World Champ has entered the chat. ➡�Full wildcard breakdown below.
➡�Stephanie Gilmore is IN replacing Tatiana Weston-Webb.
➡�Nadia Erostarbe is IN as the ongoing replacement for Johanne Defay.
➡�Ian Gentil continues to replace Gabriel Medina.
➡�Ramzi Boukhiam is OUT due… pic.twitter.com/CtviFpYRuW
— World Surf League (@wsl) April 30, 2025
'I've been enjoying my time away from tour, but I'm still a competitor at heart, so I am really looking forward to clicking back into that mindset and testing myself after some time away from competition.
'It's so close to home as well, so it's really a no-brainer.'
Gilmore is set to return to the WSL tour full time in 2026, keen to compete against the new generation of stars, including Bells Beach winner Isabel Nicholls, who will be a headline act on the Gold Coast after her stirring win last weekend.
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