- Australian surf pioneer Phyllis O’Donnell dies
- she was a woman world surfing champion in 1964
- Layne Beachley and Stephanie Gilmore praised O’Donnell
Australian sports greats Layne Beachley and Stephanie Gilmore have paid tribute to surfing legend Phyllis O’Donnell, who died aged 87.
O’Donnell became Australia’s first women’s world surfing champion in 1964 and also won three national titles between 1963 and 1965.
A devastated Beachley, a seven-time world champion, took to Instagram to celebrate O’Donnell’s life.
“Professional surfing has lost its matriarch… Phyllis was a pioneer who broke the glass ceiling for all of us,” she posted.
‘She bravely paved the way, elevated, celebrated and helped develop women’s surfing.
‘Phyllis inspired me personally to challenge the status quo and give back to a sport that has given us so much.
‘We are indebted to her passion and are saddened to lose our biggest cheerleader. RIP Phyllis.’
Gilmore, who knew O’Donnell personally, called the sports pioneer his “idol.”
Australian sporting greats Layne Beachley and Steph Gilmore have paid tribute to surfing legend Phyllis O’Donnell (pictured), who has died aged 87.
O’Donnell was the 1964 world women’s surfing champion and also won three national surfing titles between 1963 and 1965 (pictured in action)
O’Donnell is pictured (right) alongside Australian surfing legend Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly.
Layne Beachley called O’Donnell a “pioneer and legend” of the sport who “broke the glass ceiling for all of us.”
Australian surfing great Stephanie Gilmore said Phyllis O’Donnell was her sporting idol and had an “adventurous soul”.
Stephanie Gilmore is pictured (left) with Phyllis O’Donnell (centre) after winning the Roxy Pro Women’s Final at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast in 2005.
“Phyllis was an adventurous young soul, who always had a cheeky smile on her face,” he said. News Corporation.
‘I was inspired by her, I realized she had a real love for the ocean.
‘It was an honor to meet her and I will always be grateful that Phyllis paved the way for young aspiring surfers like me.
“I hope he’s getting some good waves in peace.”
In 2014, O’Donnell was added to the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach in California following her brilliant achievements in the sport.
Close friend Bianca Nicholson confirmed that O’Donnell “passed away peacefully in his sleep.”
“Phyllis was extremely charismatic, adorable, competitive and had the best sense of humor,” he said.
“To the world she was a surfing hero, but to me she was my old lady and forever my silly Phylly.”