California teen Caitlin Simmers makes surfing history as youngest female world champion

09/06/2024 07:58 PM

• John John Florence snaps seven-year drought to clinch men's title
• Simmers, 18, defeats the Olympic gold medallist for world crown

Hawaii's John John Florence and Californian Caitlin Simmers have taken out the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles in California, with Florence snapping a seven-year drought to clinch his third world title and 18-year-old Simmers becoming the youngest female to win the world crown.

Florence, 31, and Simmers entered the WSL finals as the top seeds, meaning they lay in wait as the other four competitors in each field surfed off before the best of three heat showdown to decide the crown.