One-armed surfer topples top Australians at Fiji Pro

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This was published 7 years ago

One-armed surfer topples top Australians at Fiji Pro

Updated

TAVARUA, Fiji One-armed Hawaiian wildcard Bethany Hamilton has pulled off upset wins over two of Australia's best female surfers at the Fiji Pro.

After eliminating world ratings leader Tyler Wright in the second round, Hamilton backed it up to beat six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore in the third round at Cloudbreak.

On track: Tyler Wright, seen here in action earlier this year, is one step closer to a maiden world title.

On track: Tyler Wright, seen here in action earlier this year, is one step closer to a maiden world title.Credit: Ed Sloane/WSL

On a day of mixed results for Australians, 2009 world junior champion Laura Enever produced the event's first perfect-10 ride to give defending world champion Carissa Moore a scare.

However it was Wright's loss to Hamilton which caused the biggest stir, with the 22-year-old Australian - who won three of the year's opening four events - was toppled in a high-scoring early morning heat.

Hamilton catches a ride after her win.

Hamilton catches a ride after her win.Credit: Ed Sloane/WSL

Wright produced scores of 7.33 and 7.57 to put herself in a commanding position with 10 minutes remaining in the heat before Hamilton, who lost an arm in a shark attack when she was 13 in 2003, produced a whopping nine-point ride to win by 1.20.

Hamilton proved her win was no fluke by taking down Gilmore by 0.70 in their third round heat with a combined score of 15.47.

"Stephanie, Tyler and Carissa are three of my favourite female surfers, so it was daunting knowing I had Stephanie in my heat," Hamilton said. "I have so much respect for everyone on tour.

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"I have been dreaming of surfing and competing here, so I was excited to receive a Wildcard entry into this event. I am honored that I can inspire people. I know I am in a unique position to encourage young girls to make great decisions as they grow into women and to chase their dreams. Even after losing my arm, I am still doing everything I've hoped I could do with my future and even more. I think I am a reminder for the young girls that they can do it if they set their mind to it."

Hamilton posted a near perfect 9.00 out of 10.

Hamilton posted a near perfect 9.00 out of 10.Credit: Ed Sloane/WSL

Gilmore will now face fellow-Australian Nikki Van Dijk in a do-or-die fourth-round battle, after the 21-year-old finished third to 2015 runner-up Courtney Conlogue and Sage Erickson of the US in their third-round heat.

Meanwhile Enever, who was second to Moore in her third-round heat, will now face Hawaiian Malia Manuel in the fourth round.

Australia's Sally Fitzgibbons won her third-round heat with a combined score of 16.37, returning to the same beach she suffered a perforated eardrum in winning her second successive Fiji Pro last year.

The two other Australians in the event, Keely Andrew and Bronte Macaulay, were eliminated in the second round by South Africa's Bianca Buitendag and Enever respectively.

AAP

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