Johanne Defay

Last updated

Johanne Defay
Defay (28592452346).jpg
Johanne Defay at the 2016 US Open of Surfing
Personal information
Born (1993-11-19) 19 November 1993 (age 31)
Le Puy-en-Velay, France
Residence La Réunion, France
Height5 ft 5.6 in (1.67 m)
Weight134 lb (61 kg)
Surfing career
Best yearRanked #3 WSL CT World Tour – 2022
SponsorsWakanda, GoPro Cameras, Smith Optics, Superdry Surf Company, Smoothstar Skateboards, Tim Spirit, Seventyone Percent Skincare
Major achievements
Surfing specifications
StanceNatural (regular) foot
Shaper(s)Channel Islands
Medal record
Women's surfing
Representing Flag of France.svg  France
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2024 Paris Shortboard
World Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Biarritz Team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2017 Biarritz Women
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2023 La Bocana Team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2024 Arecibo Team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2023 La Bocana Women
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2024 Arecibo Women

Johanne Defay (born 19 November 1993) is a French professional surfer. She was born in Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne region of France. She qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games where she won bronze.

Contents

She began surfing at the age of 8 off the beaches of Reunion Island, which is her home today. After Johanne's first competition when she was only ten years old, she quickly moved through the European amateur ranks to eventually take on the WSL World Qualifying Series. In 2008 Defay almost gave up competing. She was finding it difficult to transition from the juniors to the WQS and then the economy crashed causing many surf companies cancel their sponsorships. At that time, Johanne found herself without sponsors and also without decent results. However, with her parents’ encouragement, Johanne was able to qualify for the World Championship Tour within two years.

She has won five World Surf League events, the Vans US Open of Surfing 2015, the Fiji Women's Pro 2016, Uluwatu CT 2018, the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro 2021 [1] and the Quiksilver/ROXY Pro G-Land 2022.

Competitive highlights

Career victories

WCT Wins
YearEventVenueCountry
2024 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Supertubos, Peniche Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal
2022 Quiksilver/ROXY Pro G-Land G-Land, Banyuwangi Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
2021 Jeep Surf Ranch Pro Lemoore, California Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
2018 Uluwatu CT - Women's Uluwatu, Bali Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
2016 Fiji Women's Pro Namotu, Tavarua Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji
2015 Women's Vans US Open of Surfing Huntington Beach, California Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

WSL World Championship Tour

Tournament2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Roxy Pro Gold Coast 13th13th3rd3rd9th5thCancel due to

covid-19 crisis [2]

Drug Aware Margaret River Pro 9th9th13th9thCanceled and

finished at Uluwatu [3]

9th
Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach 13th5th5th5th5th9th
Rio Women's Pro 13th9th5th2nd9th9th
Corona Bali Protected ----13th9th
Uluwatu CT ----1st-
Fiji Women's Pro 5th3rd1st5th--
Corona open J-Bay ----5th5th
Vans US Open of Surfing 5th1st13th5th5th-
Swatch Women's Pro Trestles 3rd9th5th9th--
Surf Ranch Pro ----5th2nd
Roxy Pro France 3rd5th9th9th5th3rd
Cascais Women's Pro 5th5th3rd13th--
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal -----5th
Maui Pro 5th9th13th13th5th5th
Rank8th8th5th9th5th8th

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References

  1. Boxscore World Sportswire (21 June 2021). "Johanne Defay and Filipe Toledo Win Jeep Surf Ranch Pro presented by Adobe". boxscorenews.com. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  2. "Breaking: 2020 WSL Tour Canceled". 17 July 2020.
  3. "Cancelled Margaret River Event to Finish at Uluwatu". 10 May 2018.