Sally Fitzgibbons’ world surf gold medal not enough for Olympic Games spot

Sally Fitzgibbons’ gold medal-winning effort at the World Surfing Games was quickly followed by a brutal Olympic Games reality.

Aussie surfing star Sally Fitzgibbons has experienced ecstasy and agony after winning a record fourth World Surfing Games gold medal in Puerto Rico.

The 33-year-old battled through seven heats to claim the gold medal against the best surfers in the world, adding to titles she won in 2008, 2018 and 2021.

But her Australian team fell agonisingly short of securing an extra spot for this year’s Paris Olympics Games, which in a cruel twist, would have gone to Fitzgibbons.

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Fitzgibbons’ victory took Australia to 1720 points in the overall team competition, but the runner-up finish from Brazilian Tatiana Weston Webb was enough for Brazil to nab that extra third spot for Paris with 1755 points.

Australia’s Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright have already secured spots for the Olympics via the World Surf League rankings, but Fitzgibbons was hoping to be awarded the extra spot and follow-up her appearance from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Speaking after her gold medal-winning effort, the veteran NSW surfer was overjoyed with the result.

Sally Fitzgibbons in action on finals day at the ISA World Surfing Games. Photo: ISA / Jersson Barboza

“Paddling out for that final, I had a really calm feeling wash over me,” she said.

“I knew that it was going to take the bigger, taller sections and attacking surfing, and I had to find that in myself going toe-to-toe with opponents from Brazil and France that I’ve surfed with for 10-plus years on the world tour.

“There’s sometimes a lot of scar tissue of some instances where it’s just been so tight and they’ve got me and pipped me at the post.

“Just to know that I still lean into that and it’s possible to win one back on them, that’s the exciting thing about surfing and why I still show up to the Games.”

In a slightly odd move, the official Olympic Games Instagram account shared a video of Fitzgibbons’ win with the caption: “Emotions ran high as Sally Fitzgibbons received her fourth ISA World Surfing Games gold in Puerto Rico.”

There was some strong reaction to the reality facing the Aussie star as her Paris dream went up in smoke.

“Won gold, broke the record, and still couldn’t qualify for the Olympics. Sorry but the system is broken,” wrote one Instagram user.

“You’re kidding she doesn’t make it even with the win?” was a reply.

Fitzgibbons after winning gold in Puerto Rico. (Photo by Ricardo ARDUENGO / AFP)

Sally Fitzgibbons celebrating with Team Australia. Photo: ISA / Pablo Franco

“Give her an Olympic spot!!!” implored another.

Fitzgibbons, who has 12 wins to her name on the WSL Championship Tour and is a three-time world title runner-up, said she was spurred on by the Aussie supporters on the beach.

“To navigate through and not have the best opportunities in terms of waves, it was all about the grit and the digging deep and hearing my team on the beach cheering and just that encouragement and belief everyone had around me,” she said.

“I just have an immense amount of pride thinking about the people I’m representing back home and everyone that’s put into my journey and my career.

“It’s just topped off going to the closing ceremony and standing on top of the podium and hearing your anthem.

x4 https://t.co/cBdsKgEt5p

— Sally Fitzgibbons (@Sally_Fitz) March 3, 2024

“That emotion wells up, the tears come out and it’s just that childhood dream you’re living out. That’s why I wake up every day and try and keep doing my process, so I have the opportunity to keep showing up and experiencing things like I did today.

“It’s a proud moment to be leaving Puerto Rico with the gold medal … I’m leaving here with very high spirits.”

Australia finished fifth in the men’s competition behind Brazil, giving the South Americans another extra place for Paris.

The Brazilians will be the only nation with a maximum six competitors at the upcoming Games.

Originally published as Sally Fitzgibbons’ world surf gold medal not enough for Olympic Games spot