Greatest surfer ever Stephanie Gilmore reveals shocking pay gap between men and women in the sport and says she was pressured to ‘look good in a bikini’
Eight-time world surfer Stephanie Gilmore speaks out on pay inequality in sport.
The Australian surfing star tells in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine that she was earning nearly a quarter of what her male counterparts made early in her career.
“For my first eight years on tour, my salary was probably $12,000 compared to $40,000 for men. But I didn’t ask myself the question because all I wanted to do was surf,” said the 34-year-old.
Eight-time world surfer Stephanie Gilmore speaks out on pay inequality in sport. Pictured in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine
Stephanie explained that the surf industry’can be hard for women not to feel intimidated” – and she hopes to be a beacon of change.
“I’ve never been motivated by money. But being a leader is more than lifting a trophy. It’s when [I] wanted to push for equality.
The athlete explained that she felt there was an excessive focus on her appearance as a woman in sport, some of which, she admits, were her “own insecurities”.
“For my first eight years on tour, my salary was probably $12,000 compared to $40,000 for men. But I didn’t question it because all I wanted to do was surf,” the 34-year-old says
Stephanie explained that the surfing industry “can be a tough place for women who don’t feel intimidated” – and she hopes to be a beacon of change
“Yeah, there were times when I felt pressure as an up and coming surfer to look good in a bikini and have that hot beach girl vibe,” she said.
“But I’ve seen other female athletes like Serena Williams be fierce and feminine, and I feel like the older I get, the more I realize how much fun it is to embrace both sides.”
In September, Stephanie won the title of greatest female surfer of all time.
The athlete explained that she felt there was an excessive focus on her appearance as a woman in sport, some of which, she admits, were her “own insecurities”.
The Australian surfing star made history during the Lower Trestles break in California, beating world No. 1 and five-time world champion Carissa Moore in the title-clinching match.
Gilmore was in tears as she hugged Moore immediately after winning her eighth world title, one more than compatriot Layne Beachley.
“I visualized this so much and I was like ‘let’s do this,'” she said after her win.
In September, Stephanie won the title of greatest female surfer of all time. She made history during the Lower Trestles break in California, beating world No. 1 and five-time world champion Carissa Moore in the title-clinching match.
Gilmore was in tears after winning his eighth world title, one more than compatriot Layne Beachley
“Let’s just prove this whole system wrong – you can come from the bottom, come from the fifth and win a world title. It’s super cool.
“I don’t think I won a world title sitting in the water against world No. 1. There aren’t many words that can describe this feeling right now.
‘I’m freaking out. I can’t believe it – it’s crazy,” she said.
Read more in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine
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