Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Steph Gilmore wins title with victory over Tatiana Weston-Webb
STEPH Gilmore has ascended to the world No.1 ranking after claiming her first Rip Curl Pro victory at Bells Beach in seven years with victory over Tatiana Weston-Webb in a tense final.
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UPDATE: MICK Fanning might not have won at Bells Beach on Thursday but multiple world champion Stephanie Gilmore said he played a vital role in her claiming a first Rip Curl crown in seven years as well as the world No.1 spot.
Gilmore ended the longest winning run by US surfers on the women’s world tour with a nailbiting victory over Tatiana Weston-Webb on a day she wanted to do her bit to make as memorable as possible for Fanning.
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Gilmore said she drew from Fanning’s calmness as he surfed his way to a second
place in his retirement event while she “stressed” out in the semi-final and event decider.
“Bells is such a special event,” said Gilmore, the first woman on the current world tour to win four crowns at the iconic Australian surfing tournament and the first local since Sally Fitzgibbons in 2012 to ring the winners bell.
“My goodness I was so stressed and Mick would paddle out and it just calmed me down.
“He has that calming aura. I’m just so happy I got to share the water for a few heats as we crossed over.”
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Gilmore’s 27th world tour win came when a last-minute wave by Weston-Webb only just failed to earn the Hawaiian a maiden championship tour victory.
“Every single year it gets harder and harder to win these events,” said Gilmore, who has her sights set on equalling Layne Beachley’s record of seven world titles in 2018.
“But I like the yellow rashie. I want to stay in yellow a bit longer this year,” said Gilmore, whose last wins came in 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Gilmore advanced to the final by beating American teenager Caroline Marks in a tough semi-final.
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Gilmore is the only Australian woman in the world tour top five at No.1 and is followed Americans Lakey Peterson, Marks, Carissa Moore and Weston-Webb.
The next world tour event is the Margaret River Pro which is set to start next week.