‘Doubted I could do this again’: Former world champ’s emotional reveal

After early exits to start the WSL season, both Carissa Moore and Steph Gilmore understood it would not be an immediate fairytale return to the Championship tour. Four events down however, both former world champs have claimed unforgettable event wins, the likes of which surprised even themselves. After Gilmore recovered from fast exits at Bells Beach and Margaret River to land a triumphant win at Snapper Rocks, Moore notched up huge scores in Raglan New Zealand, to once again hold an event trophy aloft. “This is a dream come true. Watching Steph was an inspiration,” an emotional Carissa Moore told fans in New Zealand, following her 29th WSL event win. “I doubted I could do this again, that I could ever get this feeling, score nines, and be able to surf at a high level. This is for the mums, never stop dreaming!” Before the season, WSL commentator Felicity Palmateer told foxsports.com.au of the excitement around maternity wildcards and mums returning to the WSL. “It’s been a long time (not since Lisa Anderson) a Championship tour surfer mum has had their baby on tour with them. And the younger viewers and competitors will get to see that with Carissa,” said Palmateer. Moore has now taken that example to new heights, not only competing in the Championship tour as a new mum, but winning an event against high scoring young stars, with her baby watching on from the shore. Before Gilmore took out the 2026 Snapper Rocks crown, Moore had collapsed in tears in the arms of her family following a round one win over 15-year-old Tya Zebrowski in scenes widely shared around the surfing world. The reaction was a notable one for a woman who has won five world titles to react so strongly after just one event heat, but this was a significant moment for Moore. After congratulating her young competitor and assuring Zebrowski she too would be winning world titles one day, Moore explained why that heat was so meaningful. “When you dig deep to find what it takes to pull through it feels so good, to overcome not only your opponent but yourself and your own mental barriers. There was some doubt after the first events, not finding the right waves and things not working out, so that one felt so good,” said Moore. Gilmore explained to Fox Sports News she too had begun to have doubts before the Gold Coast win. “My first two events this season, were absolutely horrible! I had a mindset of nothing to lose, and any heat win is a bonus. But I’m so grateful to find my form, have this opportunity again,” Gilmore said. While Gilmore went on to rediscover her best event winning style on the Gold Coast, Moore showed fans in New Zealand exactly why she was World Champion five times. Both have now given their respective comeback tours a huge surge up the WSL rankings into the top ten. However, with new locations on the horizon, including the looming large waves of consequence where defending world champ and current No.3 Molly Picklum has performed so well, new challenges await the veterans. One fact is locked in though. Moore and Gilmore deserve every accolade and acknowledgement as being the pinnacle of the sport to date, or as WSL commentator Ronnie Blakey put it: “The greatest women to have stood on a surfboard.”