FACTOIDS
Full Name: Chelsea Georgeson
Nickname: Chelsea
Birthday: October 15, 1983
Height: 5’6"
Hometown: Gold Coast, Australia Stance
Sports: Surfing
PROFILE
Australian surfer Chelsea Georgeson was crowned women's surfing world champion for the first time in her career at the season-ending event in Hawaii today.
The 22-year-old from Tweed Heads led the championship standings heading into the event at Honolua Bay, and clinched the world crown this morning when her nearest rival, Peru's Sofia Mulanovich, was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Mulanovich had needed to reach the final to have any hope of retaining the world title she won in 2004.
Georgeson then capped her title success by taking out the event final, defeating Brazil's Jacqueline Silva, who had been her conqueror in the round of 16.
Georgeson also became the first surfer to win the Triple Crown, awarded to the surfer who places highest overall in the three Triple Crown events held in Hawaii in November and December.
"I’m so happy. It’s been one of the best days of my life and to have all of my friends and family here is just amazing." Georgeson said. "I knew Sof was surfing so good and I thought it was going to come down to the final for sure.
"I was just thinking, 'Oh whatever, if she gets through that’s sick and if not that’s good too.' It’s been a really good year for both of us but it ended up a bit better for me."
On her way to the final, Georgeson knocked out compatriots Trudy Todd and Melanie Redman-Carr.
