Before her full-time debut in 2007, Gilmore made her now famous admission that she hoped to be the most successful female surfer in tour history. It was met with a few guffaws and a bit of consternation because one of Australia’s favourite daughters, Layne Beachley, was the benchmark with seven world titles. But she followed her maiden success with another championship, in Hawaii, last December. She ignored any hint of alleged second-year syndrome to power through with another season-long exhibition of free-flowing and cutting-edge surfing. She won an unprecedented five titles – Maui, Sunset Beach, Peru, France and Bells Beach – to seal the title off the cliffs at Honolua Bay. Away from the water, she became a graceful and dignified face of the sport as Beachley faded. Gilmore began the year with a victory in the season-opening Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast. She maintained her world No.1 ranking by reaching the finals at the next two events on the tour, Bells and Manly Beach, as she attempted to stamp out the threat of Brazilian Silvana Lima. Gilmore was on her way to a third world championship – at just 21. Will Swanton
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