Sally Fitzgibbons chasing a Rio Olympic inspired comeback at next world surf event

IT’S where hundreds of Australians will chase gold later this year but surfer Sally Fitzgibbons is hoping to get in first for a big victory in Rio.

Sally Fitzgibbons is looking to return to her winning ways in Rio.

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IT’S where hundreds of Australians will chase gold later this year but Sally Fitzgibbons is hoping to get in first and make Rio her personal happy hunting ground as she bids to put her world championship campaign back on track.

Sports nut Fitzgibbons says knowing Rio will host Australia’s best at the Olympics in August will fire her quest for a breakthrough world tour victory this year at the Oi Rio Pro from May 10

Sally Fitzgibbons wants that winning feeling again. The surfer after her win in last year’s Fiji Pro.

“It’s a very special place and knowing the Olympics are here later this year makes it even more special. I can’t wait to get there to see what I can do,’’ said Fitzgibbon whose erratic start to the year has her ranked sixth going into the event won last year by world No, 1 Courtney Conlogue.

“The goal is to get my first win in one of the next three events on the tour.

“I am playing catch-up and I need to move.’’

Fitzgibbons, a two-time former winner of the event in Brazil, arrived in Rio this week well ahead of the waiting period to ensure she is “at home’’ with the wave.

The surfer from the NSW south coast is hoping to put her world championship campaign back on track with a top result in Brazil after a disappointing start to the year.

“My results have been a bit of a yo yo,’’ said Fitzgibbons, who recorded her worst ever world tour result in the season opener with her 13th and went into the Rip Curl Pro and Margaret River Pro sick for a second and fifth.

Sally Fitzgibbons with South African Bianca Buitendag after winning the Fiji Pro in 2015.

“It’s left me with a lot of fire ahead of the next stage of the world tour.

“I want to light a real fire in the next three events.’’

The Rio event is followed by the Fiji Pro which Fitzgibbons won last year and then the US Open at Trestles.

Conlogue leads the world title race with Australian Tyler Wright, winner of two events this season, second overall.

Reigning world champion Carissa Moore is third while six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore is fifth after three fifth place finishers after almost a year off the world tour with a leg injury.