Surfers competing at the MEO Pro in Portugal are celebrating International Women’s Day by wearing jerseys that include the name of a woman in sport who has inspired them.
Every Championship Tour (CT) surfer competing in Portugal has personally selected a woman they want to celebrate, ranging from female athletes to other global icons.
Some of the names chosen by surfers include women like Billie Jean King, Cathy Freeman, Ronda Rousey, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, as well as current CT surfers, Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore.
“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.”
Here is the list of women chosen by each WSL surfer:
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