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Carissa Moore: A Deep Dive in the Remarkable Career of the 5x WSL Champion Ahead Of Paris 2024

Published 02/21/2024, 10:03 AM EST

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What more can be said about Carissa Moore that hasn’t already been voiced? This 31-year-old surfing luminary is a perpetual force of excellence. She has clinched five world championship titles (2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2021) and pioneered the historic first Olympic gold medal in women’s surfing. However, amidst her illustrious career, Moore has announced her retirement from competitive surfing. Although she prefers to say a departure from the tour, or just stepping back, or switching gears, or, like, evolving.”

Carissa Moore will be retiring after performing in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. With her sights set on a new chapter alongside her high-school sweetheart-turned-husband, Luke Untermann, and the prospect of starting a family, Moore’s decision reflects a deeply personal evolution. Her sojourn, however, is one that encompasses normal campfire tales and stories. This is one forged by pure champion energy.

Carissa Moore’s humble beginnings in Waikiki

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Inspired by her father Chris Moore, who is a seasoned open-water swimmer, Carissa Moore’s journey into surfing began at the age of five. It started on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. Despite her parents’ divorce when she was ten, Moore’s bond with her father and her deep connection to Hawaii’s ocean remained unwavering. Moore’s early prowess in surfing became evident as she began to dominate junior competitions. She secured numerous wins in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) circuit by the age of 11.

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Her talent transcended national borders, with notable victories at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championships, contributing to Hawaii’s team triumph. Her remarkable ascent continued with a staggering 11 NSSA amateur titles under her belt. In 2008, at a mere 16 years old, Moore etched her name as the youngest champion at a Triple Crown of Surfing event. But her international rise to fame came after 2010.

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From breakout star to surfing sensation

In 2010, Carissa Moore burst onto the ASP Championship Tour scene. She clinched victory in two major contests and earned the prestigious title of Rookie of the Year. The following year, she secured her place as one of the most promising young talents in surfing. With an impressive string of victories, she made history as the youngest person ever, male or female, to claim a surfing world title at just 18 years old.

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Throughout her career, Moore’s dominance on the World Tour has been undeniable. She’s secured multiple championship wins in 2013, 2015, and beyond. She has been recognized as an Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic. Additionally, she’s been honoured as a Woman of the Year by Glamour magazine. Plus, she’s the Top Female Surfer in SURFER magazine polls. The State of Hawaii declared “Carissa Moore Day” in her honour. Her journey reached new heights in 2019 when she clinched victory at the World Surf League Women’s Championship Tour. There, she secured her spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

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Written by:

Maleehah Shakeel

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Maleehah Shakeel is an Olympic Sports writer at EssentiallySports who covers equestrian sports, rodeo, bull riding, and Gymnastics. Maleehah’s stories revolve around various brand endorsement deals of athletes like Jessica Springsteen, Jennifer Gates, and Olivia Dunne. She has written in depth about the brand collaboration between Jessica Springsteen and Tommy Hilfiger.
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Edited by:

Himanshu Sridhar