Steph Gilmore has won her seventh world surfing title

Australian Stephanie Gilmore has matched the record of surf legend Layne Beachley by winning her seventh world crown and now has another mammoth record in her sights.

RIDING the crest of a wave following her record-equalling seventh world title, Stephanie Gilmore is already contemplating two new quests which could deliver her a place in sporting history as the greatest ever surfer.

With a stunning rainbow in the distance and whales swimming close by at Honolua Bay, Gilmore matched the record of Australian surf legend Layne Beachley when her American rival Lakey Peterson suffered a shock early defeat at the Maui Pro on Tuesday.

Gilmore watched on from a nearby hill as the result secured her seventh world title since winning the championship tour in her debut season back in 2007.

Steph Gilmore is on the cusp of a seventh world title.

“I just felt like when I was asked about matching Layne so many times I would just say whatever came into my head because it didn’t really feel real,” Gilmore said from Hawaii.

“To finally do it is just incredible.

“It feels like there is such a big difference between number six and number seven.

“Being out there today and surfing such incredible waves and being apart of such a strong group of inspirational women it all clicked.This is why I do it, this is why I love it.”

And with no plans of retiring any time soon, Gilmore has acknowledged matching — if not exceeding — the all-time record of the great Kelly Slater could be on the horizon alongside a bid for a historic Olympic gold when surfing makes its Games debut in Tokyo in 2020.

“Oh man, that’s a lot,” she said when asked if she would target Slater’s haul of 11 world crowns prior to winning her seventh crown.

“I’d love to do that. That’s what is so exciting. Win or lose I think ahead of so many wonderful opportunities.

Layne beachley (L) famously won six titles on the trot. A younger Steph Gilmore (R). Picture: Sam Mooy

“The Olympics would be really cool as well. Can you image being the first person to win a surfing gold.“I couldn’t even see a retirement in my near future.

“The Olympics have given me a glimpse of the future.“

To have another pinnacle to aim for is incredible.”

If Gilmore is in the top eight on the women’s world tour next year she will qualify as one of two women to represent Australia in Japan.

The leading two Australians in the top 10 of the men’s world tour will also qualify.

Gilmore, who may have reached the seventh milestone earlier if she hadn’t been injured in a violent assault back in 2012 which left her with physical and mental scars, admits losing the world crown to compatriot Tyler Wright a year ago had motivated her for a milestoneseason in 2018.

Stephanie Gilmore celebrates her world title win. Picture: WSL/SLOANE

“Am I still competitive? I was in tears on the webcast in France (when she lost the chance to secure the world title early),” Gilmore said.“All of us girls pour our hearts into this.

“I still hate losing.”

After winning the world title — which she dedicated to friend and sponsor Pierre Agnes, the French CEO of Quiksilver who has been missing at sea since January — Gilmore returned to the water to win her third round heat at the Maui Pro with a “show pony barrel” and advance into the quarter-finals.

“This is the dreamiest end to the dreamiest day,” Gilmore said after barrelling her way to the heat victory.

On Wednesday defending Maui Pro champion Gilmore will chase her 30th world tour in Hawaii — the icing on the cake of a year to remember.

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