Eight-time world surfing champ Stephanie Gilmore will end her exile at Gold Coast Pro
Australian surfing legend Stephanie Gilmore will end her self-imposed exile from the World Surf League and make a cameo appearance at the Gold Coast Pro after almost two years away from competition.
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
2 hours ago
- 7NEWS
'Let's get it on': Opetaia calls out Ramirez after jaw-dropping title defence
A Jai Opetaia right hook likely broke his latest world title challenger's jaw but the Australian saved his best shot for the man he wants next after a brutal title defence. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion stopped the previously unbeaten Italian Claudio Squeo in the fifth round in Sunday night's Gold Coast duel. Body shots hurt Squeo in the fourth round before a right hook landed in the fifth and put the challenger on his haunches and feeling for his probable broken jaw. Opetaia moved to 28-0, untroubled in what had loomed as a banana-peel clash after unsuccessfully chasing bigger fights since first winning the belts three years ago. He and manager Mick Francis will travel to the United States next to sit ringside when WBA and WBO champion Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his belts later this month on the Los Angeles undercard of YouTube sensation Jake Paul. It's a fight Opetaia has been chasing, a fact he made crystal clear post-fight. 'I was just in a rush; I really wanted to get him out of here,' he said of the gutsy rival. 'I'm chasing these unification fights and it's frustrating. 'Next fight, Zurdo Ramirez. Let's get it on. 'The fight is easy to be made ... let's do it. 'I believe I'm the best boxer in the cruiserweight division and that's all I want to prove.' Earlier, Brisbane -based Irish favourite Conor Wallace saw off French campaigner Dylan Colin with a gritty, unanimous points victory over eight rounds. Moving to 16-1, the light heavyweight is ranked No.2 in the IBF standings and eyeing a world title shot later this year in a class headlined by Dmitry Bivol. Max 'Money' McIntyre, still just 20, set the tone earlier in the night with his sixth consecutive stoppage to move to 8-0. New Zealand's Ricaia Warren started strongly but the undefeated super middleweight connected with a clean combination to end the fight in the sixth round. 'Welcome to the Money show, ladies and gentleman,' McIntyre said. 'I'm here for world titles, here for straps. I want to go down as the greatest of all time.' Bangkok-based Australian featherweight Tyler Blizzard beat Rocky Ogden to win the IBF's Pan Pacific belt while Danny Keating badly split Blake Minto above the left eye and won all 10 rounds in their welterweight battle.
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Unstoppable Marc Marquez roars to Aragon Grand Prix win
Marc Marquez proved once again that he was the master of the circuit at MotorLand as the Ducati rider won the Aragon Grand Prix from pole to extend his lead in the MotoGP championship. Marquez's brother Alex finished second for Gresini Racing while Marc's teammate Francesco Bagnaia came third as Ducati bikes swept the podium on Sunday. Marc had completed the perfect weekend last year to win his first race in 1043 days at the same circuit and he repeated his feat, the polesitter and sprint winner claiming a record-extending seventh MotoGP victory at the track. Such was Marquez's dominance this weekend that he became the first rider in 10 years to lead every session -- including warm-ups, practice and qualifying -- since he did it himself at the German Grand Prix in 2015. "It was an amazing weekend. Leading all the practices, full focus, just full concentration," said Marquez, who now leads his brother by 32 points in the championship. "As I expected, the others got closer and closer every session. In the race, the pace of Alex and Pecco (Bagnaia) was super fast, but it was consistent. (I was) just controlling the race distance. "And the celebration together with my brother was amazing. The best way to come back with full Ducatis in the top." The two Marquez brothers also danced arm-in-arm in front of the home fans sitting in a special stand dedicated to Spain's fastest brothers on two wheels. Heading into the race weekend, the Marquez brothers had also been involved in social media banter over who their mother would support and Marc had the last laugh when he handed her a red Ducati shirt at the winners' circle in the paddock. Marc had broken the lap record to take his 99th career pole before claiming a seventh sprint victory of the season on Saturday despite a poor start, but this time he shot off the line with a perfect launch to lead into turn one. Alex stayed in second place but behind them it was KTM's Pedro Acosta who sparred with Bagnaia for third as they constantly swapped positions, using each other's slipstream to overtake, but the more-experienced Bagnaia held on. Up front, Marc continued to set fastest laps as he streaked away with Alex unable to match his pace, as his brother slowly but surely extended his advantage at one of his favourite circuits which has a corner named after him. The younger Marquez sibling was soon looking over his shoulder to see Bagnaia eating up the distance between them while KTM's Brad Binder crashed in fifth place, leaving the crew chief of the struggling team fuming in the pit lane. But Alex quickly found his rhythm to stay in second while Bagnaia fended off Acosta to prevent an all-Spanish podium. Bagnaia, who is third in the championship, now sits 93 points behind Marc. Australian rider Jack Miller finished 14th on his Pramac Yamaha, some 26.761 seconds behind.
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
'Let's get it on': Opetaia message after brutal defence
A Jai Opetaia right hook likely broke his latest world title challenger's jaw but the Australian saved his best shot for the man he wants next after a brutal title defence. The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion stopped the previously unbeaten Italian Claudio Squeo in the fifth round in Sunday night's Gold Coast duel. Body shots hurt Squeo in the fourth round before a right hook landed in the fifth and put the challenger on his haunches and feeling for his probable broken jaw. He moved to 28-0, Opetaia untroubled in what had loomed as a banana-peel clash for the Australian who has been unsuccessfully chasing bigger fights since first winning the belts three years ago. He and manager Mick Francis will travel to the United States next to sit ringside when WBA and WBO champion Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez defends his belts later this month on the Los Angeles undercard of Jake Paul. It's a fight Opetaia's been chasing, a fact he made crystal clear post-fight. "I was just in a rush; I really wanted to get him out of here," he said of the gutsy rival. "I'm chasing these unification fights and it's frustrating. "Next fight, Zurdo Ramirez. Let's get it on. "The fight is easy to be made ... let's do it. "I believe I'm the best boxer in the cruiserweight division and that's all I want to prove." Earlier, Brisbane-based Irish favourite Conor Wallace saw off French campaigner Dylan Colin with a gritty, unanimous points victory over eight rounds. Moving to 16-1, the light heavyweight is ranked No.2 in the IBF standings and eyeing a world title shot later this year in a class headlined by Dmitry Bivol. Max 'Money' McIntyre, still just 20, set the tone earlier in the night with his sixth consecutive stoppage to move to 8-0. New Zealand's Ricaia Warren started strongly but the undefeated super middleweight connected with a clean combination to end the fight in the sixth round. "Welcome to the Money show, ladies and gentleman," McIntyre said. "I'm here for world titles, here for straps. I want to go down as the greatest of all time." Bangkok-based Australian featherweight Tyler Blizzard beat Rocky Ogden to win the IBF's Pan Pacific belt while Danny Keating badly split Blake Minto above the left eye and won all 10 rounds in their welterweight battle.
