Australian Stephanie Gilmour wins Rio Pro

Australian Stephanie Gilmore has unleashed the fierceness hiding beneath her glowing free-spiritedness to win the Rio Pro.

Gilmour won four consecutive heats on a marathon day at Brazil’s Saquarema.

Stephanie Gilmore has unleashed the fierceness often hiding beneath her glowing free-spiritedness to win the Rio Pro.

The 30-year-old Australian is one of the more genuinely laid-back and joyful souls in world sport but she’s launching herself into a full-blown competitive mindset in an attempt to grab another world title this year and match Layne Beachley’s benchmark of seven.

She won four consecutive heats on a marathon day at Brazil’s Saquarema, defeating Californian Lakey Peterson in the final to retain this year’s World No.1 ranking.

“For a few years there I was sort of half-hearted with things and I realised that you can’t be that way if you want to win,” Gilmore said.

“You have to have the eye of the tiger. You have to want to win, and you have to be fierce and committed to these things. I love to really apply myself properly. It’s really special. I’m so happy. I just want to win. It’s cool. It’s such a good feeling.”

Gilmore has won back-to-back events after her stirring victory at Bells Beach. Peterson won the season-opening Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast.

Australia’s defending world champion Tyler Wright was eliminated in a wave-starved third round heat that left her in seventh place on the rankings. Peterson is second.

“That was a really crucial final today because Lakey has had a win and I’ve had a win,” Gilmore said.

“I just want it. I want it really bad and that is what it takes. It feels good. I just love competing. It is such a good challenge to be out there and to have this stage to perform on is really special. I’ve been doing this for a while but it never gets old. This is just the beginning.”