Caitlin Simmers Makes Surfing History as Youngest Female World Champion
American Caitlin Simmers created history on Friday after triumphing at the World Surf League (WSL) Finals at Lower Trestles in California, becoming the youngest female to win the world crown.
Here is all you need to know:
Simmers earned her place in the WSL Finals thanks to securing three tour victories throughout the season, triumphing at the Lexus Pipe Pro, Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and VIVO Rio Pro. This was enough to see her finish top of the 2024 Championship Tour rankings.
Arriving in Southern California for the title showdown, Simmers would end up facing Caroline Marks after the reigning world champion overcame fifth seed Tatiana Weston-Webb of Brazil in a tight contest that went down to the wire.
Watson-Webb had already overcome Australia’s Molly Picklum in the opening match and then got the better of Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy. She then pushed Marks all the way before eventually falling to a narrow 17.43 to 16.87 defeat.
In a thrilling final, Marks came out all guns blazing and snatched the lead after the first heat. Simmers then responded in style as she triumphed in the second heat, producing two nine-point rides, much to the delight of the huge crowd lining the beach.
In the decider, both riders were starved of waves but it was Simmers who managed to produce when she needed it most, scoring 15.16 as her great friend Marks could only produce one score of 7.17.
At just 18 years, 10 months and 12 days of age, Simmers overtook five-time world champion Carissa Moore to become surfing’s youngest-ever world champion.
Simmers said: “I had a bit of a meltdown after the first heat, then somehow pulled it together. I don't think I’ve had a nine in a while so it felt really good to get two of them in that second heat. That definitely gained me a little bit of confidence back.”
She added: “I came in with the mindset of, ‘I’m going to surf how I want to surf and if I'm going to win then I want to win with the surfing I want to do’. I was lucky enough to keep myself in the moment and choose the best waves, and I'm glad that I could pull it off. It was an amazing day. I’ve always wanted to win a world title so to actually do it is surreal.”
In the men’s event, Hawaii’s John John Florence collected his third world title after defeating Italo Ferreira. The Brazilian fifth seed had eliminated Ethan Ewing, Jack Robinson and Griffin Colapinto but ran out of steam in the final as Florence won the first two heats to claim victory.