- 2017-03-20
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SPORTS
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Donate to support families affected by the crisis in Ukraine ➔ World Surf League: Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, Owen Wright Claims His Third CT Victory
Following Roxy Pro Gold Coast, Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast witnessed incredible Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final on March 19 at Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Waves were in four-to-six foot (1.5 - 2.0 metre) conditions.
Owen Wright (AUS) claimed his third victory on the World Surf League Championship Tour since Fiji Pro in 2015. Last year, he sat out the entire 2016 season, because he injured traumatic brain at Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii in 2015. After accepting the injury wildcard for 2017, he came back to the Championship Tour and won this event.
Defending event winner Matt Wilkinson (AUS) was defeated by Owen on the Final, couldn't take his second consecutive win.
Reigning World Champion John John Florence (HAW) competed against Matt Wilkinson on Semifinals. The Heat was close battle, John John Florence earned 9.50 on beginning of the Heat, followed by he got 6.00. While, Matt Wilkinson received 7.83, who needed to win with over 7.68. He entered 8.70 on his last wave in 2 minutes 30 seconds left and John John Florence was finished at third place.
After the Final, Owen Wright said;
“At the start of February, I was sitting in the doctor’s office and there were question marks on the year. So to be sitting here right now, we just pushed hard and went hard. I confronted every fear of getting back into it. There were a lot of fears I needed to push through in order to get back into the sport and back into what pretty much took me out and could have taken me out forever. I kept going and kept doing it. I am just so stoked.
I couldn’t have done it without all the support of my friends and family, including my partner and my little baby boy. We just kept going and the team just kept saying, ‘Keep breaking it down,’ and ‘Keep going Owen, keeping getting back there.’ This is what I love. This is what I love doing."
Runner-up Matt Wilkinson stated;
"To be in another Final here is a dream. I obviously wanted to win but Owen [Wright] has made me cry about five times this week. To see him last year was one of the toughest things I’ve ever seen and for Owen to be in the this event is one of the most amazing things, but to go and win is incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to beat me. He’s inspired me so much and to come back and do this is unreal.
Coming into the event this year I did have a sneaky bit of confidence but you do think about all the work that the others have put in on the off season. Now I guess I feel a lot more confident and I feel like my surfing is the best it’s ever been so I’m really excited to go for the World Title."
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Final Results:
1 - Owen Wright (AUS) 14.66
2 - Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.50
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.90 def. John John Florence (HAW) 15.50
SF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 15.74 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.44
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.00 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.37
QF 2: John John Florence (HAW) 14.86 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.33
QF 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.00 def. Connor O'Leary (AUS) 11.76
QF 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.34 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.83
All photos copyright by World Surf League.- source : World Surf League
