LOS ANGELES, Calif/USA (Wednesday, March 2, 2022) - The World Surf League (WSL) announced today an athlete-led initiative to celebrate International Women's Day 2022, showcasing the WSL's commitment to inspire future generations and drive equality in sport. To celebrate International Women's Day at the MEO Pro Portugal presented by Rip Curl, all WSL Championship Tour (CT) surfers will compete wearing jerseys that include the name of a woman in sport who has inspired them. The sleeve of each jersey will also include IWD branding.
Every CT competitor has personally selected a woman to celebrate, ranging from athletes who have inspired them personally to icons who have paved the way globally. Representing countries from all over the world and sports as diverse as basketball and snowboarding to track and field and tennis, from Billie Jean King, Cathy Freeman, Ronda Rousey, and Naomi Osaka to current CT athletes Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore. Each of the women showcased on the WSL jerseys in Portugal will also receive a replica jersey and a message from the CT surfer who selected them.
"Equality and inclusion are at the core of everything we do at the WSL," said WSL SVP of Tours and Head of Competition, Jessi Miley-Dyer. "It's really important to our athletes and the WSL to use our voices to celebrate the values that make our league unique in the world of sport. Taking this moment to celebrate the leaders in sport who paved the way is important, and I'm thrilled that our athletes have embraced the opportunity."
The WSL is committed to creating equal opportunities for the best surfers in the world to showcase their talent and athleticism, and since 2019 the WSL has awarded equal prize money to the women and men competing in every WSL owned and operated event. Additionally, the 2022 CT season includes identical schedules and venues for the women and men, a first in professional surfing history. The new schedule features three new events for women at three iconic and world-renowned waves: Pipeline in Hawaii, Teahupo'o in Tahiti, and G-Land in Indonesia. The full WSL CT schedule is available HERE.
"Harmonizing our most elite competitions, building a schedule where every athlete, men and women, will compete at every location, at the most competitive lineups in the world, has the power to change the sport forever and sends a powerful signal to athletes around the world," said WSL CEO Erik Logan. "I'm incredibly proud of the work we're doing at the WSL and thrilled to see the enthusiasm from our athletes to celebrate International Women's Day this year."
Carissa Moore (HAW): Rell Sunn
Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA): Michelle Kwan
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS): Emma McKeon
Johanne Defay (FRA): Florence Arthaud
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS): Phyllis O'Donnell
Lakey Peterson (USA): Billie Jean King
Tyler Wright (AUS): Sue Bird
Isabella Nichols (AUS): Ash Barty
Courtney Conlogue (USA): Lisa Andersen
Gabriela Bryan (HAW): Shelby Longley
Brisa Hennessy (CRI): Andrea Vargas
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW): Ronda Rousey
India Robinson (AUS): Ronda Rousey
Luana Silva (HAW): Sky Brown
Molly Picklum (AUS): Ash Barty
Malia Manuel (HAW): Bethany Hamilton
Bronte Macaulay (AUS): Ash Barty
Tia Blanco (HAW): Lindsey Jacobellis
Filipe Toledo (BRA): Maria Esther Bueno
Ítalo Ferreira (BRA): Ana Marcela Cunha
Conner Coffin (USA): Bethany Hamilton
Morgan Cibilic (AUS): Cathy Freeman
Griffin Colapinto (USA): Bethany Hamilton
Jordy Smith (ZAF): Caster Semenya
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN): Naomi Osaka
Frederico Morais (PRT): Jéssica Silva
John John Florence (HAW): Alex Florence
Jack Robinson (AUS): Rose Namajunas
Kolohe Andino (USA): Carissa Moore
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA): Federica Pellegrini
Deivid Silva (BRA): Malu Mendes
Ryan Callinan (AUS): Stephanie Gilmore
Ethan Ewing (AUS): Helen Ewing
Kelly Slater (USA): Lisa Andersen
Jadson Andre (BRA): Jessi Miley-Dyer
Miguel Pupo (BRA): Maria Esther Bueno
Seth Moniz (HAW): Rell Sunn
Ezekiel Lau (HAW): Natasha Kai
Connor O'Leary (AUS): Akemi Karasawa
Jake Marshall (USA): Serena Williams
Callum Robson (AUS): Chloe Kim
Samuel Pupo (BRA): Naomi Osaka
Nat Young (USA): Rose Namajunas
Imaikalani deVault (HAW): Chloe Kim
Lucca Mesinas (PER): Sofía Mulánovich
Joao Chianca (BRA): Silvana Lima
Jackson Baker (AUS): Tyler Wright
Owen Wright (AUS): Bethany Hamilton
Matthew McGillivray (ZAF): Bianca Buitendag
Vasco Ribeiro (PRT): Serena Williams
Barron Mamiya (HAW): Rose Namajunas
Caio Ibelli (BRA): Chelsea Hedges
Alfonso Antunes (PRT): Stephanie Gilmore
Justin Becret (PRT): Camille Muffat
Video asset for the WSL's celebration of IWD 2022 is available HERE. Watch live and celebrate IWD with the WSL from March 3-13, 2022, on WorldSurfLeague.com.