Mick Fanning’s mum relieved at surf champion’s retirement

NOW he’s announced he’s calling it quits, Mick Fanning’s biggest fan – his mum Liz Osborne – says she can finally stop stressing about monster waves and sharks, and whether her boy wins heats, contests and world titles.

Mick Fanning competes in the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.

• How Fanning carved up all other surfers
• Fanning working hard to avoid embarrassing exit
• The moments that made Fanning great
• Mick Fanning announces retirement

MICK Fanning’s biggest fan – his mum Liz Osborne – says she can finally stop stressing about monster waves and sharks, and whether her boy wins heats, contests and world titles.

“I’ll finally be able to relax now,” she said yesterday from Bali, where she was holidaying when her son announced he was retiring from the world surfing tour after a stellar 17-year career.

“It’s ridiculous. He’s a three-time world champion and I still stress about him every heat he surfs. Now I can come to Bali more often because I won’t have to stress any more.”

Mick Fanning and his mum Liz Osborne, at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

Fanning, 36, had hinted strongly at retirement at the end of last year and Ms Osborne said she knew ‘‘way before’’ his social media announcement on Wednesday night that he was hanging up his championship tour singlet.

“A lot of people are pretty sad but Mick wanted to go out on his own terms, while he wasn’t failing,” she said.

Mick Fanning competes in the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.

Ms Osborne has ridden all the peaks and troughs with her son – from the highs of world title triumphs to the lows of the shock deaths of two of his brothers, a near career-ending injury, a marriage breakdown and the shark attack in South Africa in 2015.

“After (eldest son) Peter passed away and the shark and everything else, he couldn’t be expected to remain so focused,” she said.

“Mick’s always been so driven to win world titles but he just realised it was time for some new challenges and dreams. I’ve always said to him, ‘I just want you to be happy in your life’.’’

The shark shows its dorsal fin behind Mick Fanning shortly before he was attacked while competing in South Africa. Picture: AFP

Fanning had found happiness in adventure travels, and in a new love, American model Breanna Randall, after his split with wife Karissa in 2016.

“I’m very happy Mick has someone in his life,” Ms Osborne said of Randall, who was last week snowboarding with Fanning in Japan.

“I’ve met her and she’s beautiful. I’m very happy for them both.”

With business interests including a Currumbin craft brewery and Coolangatta surf shop, and sponsorships from major brands such as Mercedes and Red Bull, Ms Osborne said there was no shortage of post-surfing opportunities for her son.

Mick Fanning and his American girlfriend Breanna Randall at Snapper Rocks late in 2017. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“I know he’ll be looking for new opportunities but they seem to come pretty easily for Mick because he’s such a nice guy with so much respect from everyone,” she said.

“I’ll finally be able to relax now,” she said yesterday from Bali where she was holidaying when her son announced he was retiring from the world surfing tour after a stellar 17-year career.

“It’s ridiculous. He’s a three-time world champion and I still stress about him every heat he surfs. Now, I can come to Bali more often because I won’t have to stress any more.”

Fanning, 36, had hinted strongly at retirement at the end of last year and Ms Osborne said she knew ‘‘way before’’ his social media announcement on Wednesday that he was hanging up his championship tour singlet.