GILMORE LOCKED IN FOR WSL FINALS
SHE missed an Olympic medal but Australia‘s Sally Fitzgibbons will chase a world title after securing her place in next month’s first World Surf League finals.
The cancellation of the Tahiti Pro means the Corona Open in Mexico became the final event of the regular season.
Making it to the semi-finals means Fitzgibbons, as well as seven-time world champion and fellow Australian Olympian Steph Gilmore are among the top five who will face off in a winner-takes-all battle for the world title in Lower Trestles, California.
“Since the start of the year I believed that was possible,” Fitzgibbons said after securing her shot at the world title.
“I’ve worked really hard on trying to grow and evolve my game. Looking at the five is super hard to make that cut.
“That’s just the first step and then it’s just getting that opportunity to go to Lowers and really let my surfing free.
“Hopefully do that really high-risk surfing because I guess the whole season’s been a warm-up for there.”
The one-day format will feature the top five competing in a series of elimination heats to determine the world champion.
Morgan Cibilic is the only Australia male surfer to make it through, finishing fifth despite being bundled out early in Mexico.
Fitzgibbons has been runner-up three times in the world championship and made an emotional exit in the quarter-finals at the Olympics before heading back to the tour.
But to win a maiden world title, she will have to take down Gilmore, who will have the opportunity to make history and win a record-breaking eighth world title.