REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Tuesday, December 23, 2008

THE freshly-printed T-shirt Stephanie Gilmore wore said ‘two-time world champion’ – it was a good fit.

Gilmore jetted back into the Gold Coast from Hawaii fresh from winning her second surfing world title with a new T-shirt, the trophy and a world title grin.

About 100 fans and friends greeted the girl they call ‘Happy’ and it was all a bit embarrassing for the unassuming 20-year-old Tweed resident.

“Definitely it’s embarrassing,” she said.

“My sister was organising things here and I told her let’s just keep it mellow because we don’t want a lot of hooha at the airport ... but it’s cool.

‘”The attention is rad but at the same time I’m just a 20-year-old from Kingscliff and it’s very humbling to have all these people come out to see me, but also very exciting.”

Gilmore held a press conference at the airport before heading to a photoshoot at Snapper Rocks. She then made a quick trip to her Tweed Heads flat and then on to an autograph session at Mick Fanning’s Rip Curl store at Coolangatta.

Gilmore’s family and friends partied at the Bread and Butter restaurant, Kirra, where champagne was drunk from the world championship cup.

It was a hectic day, but that’s what happens when you are the hottest property in women’s surfing.

Sometimes it is hard to believe Gilmore is an Australian sporting superstar but underneath the laidback exterior and girl-nextdoor demeanour is a competitive surfer determined to leave her mark on the world stage.