Stephanie Gilmore wins in Rio and strengthens her position at the top of the rankings

She beat Lakey Peterson in the grand final and is going to Indonesia in yellow lycra


May 16, 2018
|EN News
|POR DUKE

Stephanie Gilmore has just won the fourth stage of the world surfing circuit, the Oi Rio Pro, which ended in one-metre waves in Itaúna, Saquarema. The Australian defeated the American and vice-leader of the ranking, Lakey Peterson, in the grand final.

The moment of the sea was decisive for the victory to go to Gilmore's side, with the high tide the right hands began to break, which were the ones that ended up giving him decent scores.

He added 6,43 and 5,10, leaving Peterson needing 7,2 which he was never able to achieve.

“I always look at the right-handers. I couldn’t do a second move on the left-handers,” she said after emerging victorious from the water. “It was a crucial final because we both had wins and the top spot in the rankings was at stake. It feels good to win.” Asked how confident she has appeared in the competition, she said: “I want to win and I like to compete… It’s so great to be out there, feeling challenged, and there’s so much I have to improve.”

Heading into the grand final Gilmore said her weakness was her lefts. A weakness that led her to her first win at the CT in Brazil. Photo: WSL/Poullenot

Gilmore's win is the first of his career in Brazil and adds important points towards a possible seventh world title, tying Layne Beachley.

As for Peterson, the American made serious mistakes in crucial waves. She had the opportunity to take the lead in the rankings and squandered it by falling during important maneuvers.

Third place went to Nikki Van Dijk and Tatiana Weston Webb.

Complete results: 
1- Steph Gilmore
2- Lakey Peterson
3- Nikki Van Dijk and Tatiana Weston Webb
5- Silvana Lima, Sally Fitzgibbons, Keely Andrew and Carissa Moore

Lakey Peterson had a chance to take the lead in the rankings but she blew it, she fell on a couple of moves and Gilmore did not forgive her. Photo: WSL

Meanwhile, with the completion of the fourth round of men's competition earlier today, the quarterfinalists were defined, which are the following:

S1: Filipe Toledo vs Kolohe Andino
S2: Julian Wilson vs Michael Rodrigues
S3: Gabriel Medina vs. Wade Carmichael
S4: Yago Dora vs Ezekiel Lau

It is worth mentioning that the two-time world champion returned to the poor form of the first two stages, fell in waves in an uncharacteristic way and lost to Wade Carmichael and Yago Dora.

Leader Julian Wilson, meanwhile, continued on, as did Gabriel Medina, the next in the ranking (9th place) still alive in this event.

After producing one of the best performances of the year yesterday, John John Florence was unrecognizable today and lost to Yago Dora and Wade Carmichael. Photo: WSL
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