MICK A CHAMP TO END
THERE were tears, cheers, back-slaps, bear hugs and, because it was Mick Fanning, one final act of good sportsmanship.
One of Australia’s most loved and respected athletes fell just short of a fairytale finish yesterday at Bells Beach in Victoria, beaten in his last World Surf League tour event.
But the Gold Coast great still bowed out a winner at the Rip Curl Pro.
While the crowd were there to witness the triple world champion surf for the final time, it was Fanning who led the applause for the Brazilian who beat him to a dream finish to his 16-year career on the world tour.
It was also a smiling Fanning who warmly embraced Italo Ferreira on the water and then waited for him to be chaired up the beach – the honour afforded to event winners – before accepting his own ride from world tour mates Joel Parkinson and Taylor Knox.
“That was probably the moment that stood out for me today, being chaired by those two, such good mates,” Fanning said. “That was a really special moment.”
The Gold Coast surfer said there were no regrets at losing or deciding to retire.
“To see how much it meant to Italo was one of the greatest things I have ever seen at Bells. To see that makes me feel better,” an emotional Fanning said of the man who respected him by not giving an inch in the final and by emulating the same fight the Australian has shown throughout his career.
“There are no regrets. You have to go and live life.”
The crowd erupted when Fanning surfed his final wave at the end of a career which has seen him survive a shark attack, the death of two brothers and a potentially career-ending injury to win three world titles, 23 world tour events and the love and respect of those around him.
Fanning broke down repeatedly as he farewelled friends and fans of a world tour he has surfed for 16 long years at an event he has won four times.
Another Gold Coast great Stephanie Gilmore beat Hawaiian Tatiana WestonWebb in the women’s final to claim her fourth Bells title and the world No.1 spot.