Surf star Gilmore exits France

STEPHANIE Gilmore’s world surfing title defence and hopes of Olympic qualification have hit a setback at the Roxy Pro in France.

Australia’s seven-time world champion has experienced a rare early exit from the World Surf League’s stop at Hossegor after finishing third — and last — in an elimination heat on Saturday.

Gilmore ran out of time to post a score sufficient to overhaul compatriot Nikki van Dijk (8.60) and New Zealander Paige Hareb (8.37), who head to the round of 16.

The 31-year-old headed back into the surf with less than three minutes of the heat remaining but Gilmore could not find the perfect wave to propel her into the next stage of the competition.

“It was tough, I got smashed a few times. I broke my board, cut my hand. It’s a full sand party basically,” she said.

Gilmore, who finished last in her opening-round heat on Thursday behind Australian Keely Andrew, could only muster 6.97 in the third-last event on the WSL calendar.

Currently fourth on the WSL standings, Gilmore trails Americans Carissa Moore and Lakey Peterson plus fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons.

Gilmore only has one event win so far this year as she aims for a record eighth world title, she is also bidding to secure one of the two Australian selections when surfing makes its Olympics debut next year in Tokyo.

She is able to discard this result but admitted it would be tough to reel in the trio ahead of her.

“It’s a terrible result for me, I’ll throw it away but you can’t win world titles with results like that. It’s a really bad start to the European leg, that’s for sure.”

Gilmore was the only woman among the top four to slip up in round one, with Fitzgibbons winning her heat and the two Americans taking second places to also advance into the third round.