Career
Of Scottish descent, Gilmore's life as a surfer began at age nine when she stood on a bodyboard. By age 17 she was entering world tour events as a wild card competitor, which paid off with a victory at the 2005 Roxy Pro Gold Coast. [2] In her next season she won another wild card event, the 2006 Havaianas Beachley Classic. [3] Gilmore's success on the WQS (World Qualifying Series) tour qualified her for the 2007 Women's ASP World Tour and she did not disappoint. She won four of the eight events and claimed the 2007 World Title. She would repeat her success in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018. [4]
Gilmore also won the inaugural Swatch Girls Pro France in 2010. [5] Also in 2010, she was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame [6] and won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the year award. [7]
Gilmore is currently the top athlete on the ROXY Surf Team. [4] In 2014, Gilmore starred in a feature-length documentary titled Stephanie in the Water. [8]
Gilmore qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She had a bye in Round 2 but was then beaten by Bianca Buitendag from South Africa in Round 3 and did not contest for a medal. [9] Australia at the 2020 Summer Olympics details the results in depth.
2007 World Title
Although the 2007 season was Gilmore's rookie year, she captured the Foster's ASP Women's World Title. She won three events in 2007 to enter the final event of the season, the Billabong Pro Maui, ranked in first place; when the other contenders - former world champion Sofia Mulanovich and sophomore Silvana Lima - bowed out before her, she won the title. [10]
Victories
WSL Women's Championship Tour
| Tournament | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roxy Pro Gold Coast | 1st | 5th | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 5th | 1st |
| Rip Curl Pro | 1st | 3rd | 2nd | 5th | 3rd | 2nd | 5th | 2nd |
| Margaret River Pro | — | — | — | 3rd | 3rd | 9th | 5th | 3rd |
| Rio Pro | — | 3rd | 5th | INJ | 13th | INJ | 5th | 5th |
| Fiji Pro | — | — | — | — | 2nd | INJ | 9th | 9th |
| US Open of Surfing | — | 5th | 9th | 9th | 2nd | INJ | 5th | 13th |
| Swatch Women's Pro at Trestles | — | — | — | — | 1st | INJ | 2nd | 5th |
| Cascais Women's Pro | — | — | — | 9th | 5th | INJ | INJ | 13th |
| Roxy Pro France | — | 1st | 1st | 5th | 1st | 9th | 5th | 5th |
| Maui Women's Pro | — | — | — | — | — | INJ | 9th | 1st |
| TSB Bank Women's Surf Festival | 9th | 9th | 1st | 3rd | — | — | — | — |
| Beachley Classic | 1st | 3rd | 5th | — | — | — | — | — |
| Movistar Peru Classic | 3rd | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rip Curl Pro Portugal | 2nd | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rip Curl Search | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| O'Neill Women's World Cup | 3rd | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rank | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 5th | 1st | 12th | 6th | 2nd |
| Earnings | $91,000 | $54,500 | $71,400 | $48,000 | $292,500 | $71,000 | $130,500 | $242,125 |
