Stephanie Gilmore, Carissa Moore, Tyler Wright, Bethany Hamilton at Manly Surf Pro
Not going to Tokyo? You could well get a preview of the battle for the Olympic gold on Sydney’s northern beaches this week.
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It’s the hottest women’s field to surf at Manly in years with three world champions competing and the potential preview of the battle for Olympic gold later this year.
Every female world champion still in the competition arena will hit the water at the Manly Surf Pro from Sunday along with one of the most famous surfing names in the world.
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The event marks the return of two-time world champion Tyler Wright, an appearance by American shark survivor Bethany Hamilton and two women expected to joust for a historic surfing gold in Tokyo later this year - Australian seven-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore and American four-time winner and reigning champion Carissa Moore.
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It could well be the only time Gilmore, who has qualified but is still to be officially named in the Olympic team, and Moore meet before the Olympic debut of their sport with the Hawaiian opting to take a break from the world tour in the lead-up to Tokyo.
“At Manly, the line-up is really good, “ Wright said of her first competitive test in Australian waters after a long lay-off due to illness.
“Carissa is coming and Steph is coming down I’m pretty sure s well.”
Gilmore, Wright and Moore between them have won every women’s world surfing crown since 2007.
Prior to this Layne Beachley dominated the women’s ranks with seven world crowns.
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