LOS ANGELES, Calif./USA (Tuesday, March 8, 2022) - The World Surf League (WSL) kicked-off its International Women's Day celebration by launching an athlete-led initiative last week during the MEO Pro Portugal presented by Rip Curl. On the opening day of the third stop of the 2022 Championship Tour (CT), all surfers competed wearing jerseys that featured the name of a woman in sport who has inspired them. Every CT competitor personally selected a woman to celebrate, ranging from athletes who have inspired them personally to icons who have paved the way globally.
The CT athletes' jerseys featured some of the biggest names in international sports, and caught the attention of some of the most iconic sporting idols including tennis legend and visionary Billie Jean King, Olympic Gold medalist Cathy Freeman, tennis star Naomi Osaka, and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan.
King was selected by CT veteran Lakey Peterson (USA), Freeman was Australian Morgan Cibilic's hero, Osaka was featured twice on the jerseys of current World No.1 Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and rookie Samuel Pupo (BRA), and Kwan was chosen by Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), the winner of the women's MEO Pro Portugal presented by Rip Curl.
"We couldn't be happier with the results of this campaign," said Sarah M. Swanson, WSL Chief Marketing Officer. "At WSL, we always aim to foster equality when creating opportunities for the best surfers in the world to showcase their talent and athleticism. We created this activation to allow our surfers to celebrate amazing women in sport, and it's been really fun and moving to see their reactions as they've talked about their picks and brought this to life. The fact that so many of these sporting legends have also chosen to engage in this conversation with us is incredible and humbling for our surfers and for the league.
Four-time World Champion and surfing icon Lisa Andersen was chosen by 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and Courtney Conlogue (USA). After surfing with Andersen's name on his jersey, Slater took the opportunity to praise the former surfer for her influence on his own career.
"Lisa and I, we really went through our heyday together, the early days riding for Quiksilver, going to contests, on trips and winning world titles," Slater said. "We just have a really parallel life, so to Lisa: I still love you and I hope you enjoyed Courtney (Conlogue) and I wearing your name on our jerseys."
Five-time WSL Champion and Olympic Gold medalist Carissa Moore (HAW), as well as Seth Moniz (HAW), picked Rell Sunn, a Hawaiian surfer and pioneer of women's surfing. Being an inspirational role model herself, Moore was chosen by CT Veteran Kolohe Andino (USA).
Current World No.1 Brisa Hennessy (CRI) chose to honor compatriot sprinter Andrea Vargas. Hennessy met Vargas during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where she was the flag bearer for Costa Rica.
"I wouldn't be where I am today without the inspiration from all the women I look up to and the women that surround me in my life," said Hennessy. "In all different ways, they have inspired me to be brave, resilient, kind, to lift one another up, and to stay true to who you are."
Rookies Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) and India Robinson (AUS) both chose to have UFC Champion and record breaker Ronda Rousey on the back of their jerseys, while Australians Isabella Nichols, Molly Picklum and Bronte Macaulay decided to celebrate Australian professional tennis player and former cricketer Ash Barty.
Two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) was the only surfer who chose a basketball player for her jersey, representing Sue Bird from the Seattle Storm for WNBA.
"I started watching the WNBA the past three years and I think what these women do on and off the court is absolutely amazing," said Wright. "From social issues to fighting for racial justice and human rights, they are so inspirational. I was out for a long time so for me to come back, watching these women do what they do and speak their minds, they gave me a way to articulate what I was feeling and to come back and stand up for what I believe in and use my platform for something that I think is really important."
Two-time WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW), Ethan Wing (AUS) and Connor O'Leary (AUS) chose to keep the International Women's Day celebration close to home, putting the names of their former pro surfer mothers on the back of their jerseys.