Surfer Sally Fitzgibbon uses life experience to be a positive role model for young fans

Sally Fitzgibbons is in the middle of a wave of success, but the professional surfer knows all too well what it’s like to ride the highs and lows of a sporting career. At the forefront of her mind is the drive to establish herself as a positive role model for young women.

• Tokyo 2020 a golden opportunity for Australian surfing
• Sally Fitzgibbons’ success comes from enjoying surfing

Sally Fitzgibbons is in the middle of a wave of success, but the professional surfer knows all too well what it’s like to ride the highs and lows of a sporting career.

And through it all, at the back of her mind is the 1.2 million young fans that follow her every move on social media.

Sally Fitzgibbons at the Land Rover Polo In The City at Centennial Park on Saturday. Picture: David Swift

Establishing herself as a positive role model for young women, Fitzgibbons can’t quite believe the community of admirers she has gathered along the way.

“Coming from a small town of Gerroa with only a few hundred people, it seems quite crazy and it doesn’t feel real,” she said of her massive following.

“When I post something that inspires me or to share my journey, I put it out there to hopefully plant the seed for one other emerging grommet, it could be a surfer or just a young girl but I find that if I can shed some positive light then maybe it will shed some positive light on someone else’s day.”

MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Robyn Lawley calls ‘bullsh*t’ on modelling world

The girl who was New Zealand’s answer to Lindsay Lohan

Sally Fitzgibbons is passing on what she has learnt as a successful surfer to young fans. Picture: Getty

Fresh off the back of claiming gold at the World Surfing Games in September, the 28-year-old, currently ranked seventh in the world, says she is often approached by young women who quiz her on everything from her lifestyle to her approach to life.

Sally Fitzgibbons enjoys being a role model for young fans. Picture: David Swift

“Often they ask me, especially when I see them in person, ‘how do you know you’re being the best you and what’s true to you’ and I find I’m always telling people not to think so much and just to feel and also you've got to put yourself in spaces that allow your creativity to come out and the things you want to try and do. Don’t worry about what the rest of the crowd is doing, just do what feels good in your heart.”

The Land Rover ambassador who was one of the VIP guest at the Land Rover Polo In The City yesterday now has her sights set firmly on the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, with surfing makings its Games debut.

“There’s only two spots, … its going to be awfully tough to vie for that spot. But no matter who represents the green and gold I think we’re in pretty safe hands.

“We’ve got a good culture building within that program and high performance centre, I’m excited to be part of the squad, we’ve been part of the squad for a year now and there’s a great energy towards the games.”