Surfing legend Kelly Slater has fought back tears after being eliminated from the Margaret River Pro, which could effectively end her career.
The 11-time world champion climbed the steps after being eliminated in the round of 32 by world number one Griffin Colapinto in a small swell off the coast of Western Australia.
Slater applied for a wild card into August’s Fiji Pro, which he may well get, but was clearly considering the end of a professional surfing career that spanned more than three decades when he spoke after managing only a score of 6.17 in two waves, losing to Colapinto’s 11.87.
“It almost hit me; it’s just bubbling up there,” the 52-year-old said.
Slater said he had been “struggling… fighting the pain” since Bells Beach in 2022, when he injured his hip and had to have surgery.
“Everything comes to an end and if you don’t adapt, you don’t survive,” she said, trying to hold back tears.
“My motivation hasn’t been there to give 100 percent that everyone is doing now.
“It has been a life full of incredible memories. So much emotion for so long, so much dedication.
“It’s not all roses, but they have been the best moments of my life. I know my family is at home watching them. I love you guys. I couldn’t achieve a miracle, but I achieved a few over the years.”
Slater said he really began to come to terms with the end of his surfing career in February, when he spoke to his partner after being eliminated from the Sunset Beach event on Oahu by Australian Ethan Ewing.
“I was at home talking to Kalani and I broke down and said ‘this feels like the end,'” she said.
Despite conquering the sport around the world since his first world title in 1992, Slater has never won in Margaret River and said he would like to end his career on a break where he has happier memories.
“The support here has been unquestionably incredible over the years. I’ve never had a good result here and the public has been very supportive,” he said.
“[But] I’ve had a fight with this wave my entire career, so it’s not necessarily the wave I want to end up on. I have requested a wild card for Fiji. We’ll see how it goes.”
Kalani is pregnant and expecting about three months, and Slater said he was looking forward to “the beginning of something else, the beginning of the rest of life.”
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