Australia has been crowned the Team World Champion at the 2025 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games. The event concluded with thrilling finals, showcasing exceptional talent and historic achievements for both individual surfers and their nations. Dane Henry of Australia secured the men’s individual gold, while Spain’s Janire Gonzalez-Etxabarri made history with the nation’s first-ever women’s gold medal.
Key Takeaways
- Australia won the team gold medal, their sixth overall and first in 14 years.
- Dane Henry (AUS) claimed the men’s individual gold, becoming the first junior world champion to win the senior ISA title since 1982.
- Janire Gonzalez-Etxabarri (ESP) achieved a historic first for Spain by winning the women’s individual gold.
- Morgan Cibilic (AUS) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) contributed with bronze medals for Australia.
- Yolanda Hopkins (POR) took silver in the women’s event, and Kauli Vaast (FRA) earned silver in the men’s.
Dominant Performance by Australia Secures Team Title
Australia’s victory in the 2025 ISA World Surfing Games marks a significant return to the top of team surfing, ending a 14-year drought. The team’s triumph was spearheaded by Dane Henry’s stellar performance in the men’s final. Henry, who also holds the junior world championship title, delivered a career-defining heat with an 18.17 total, showcasing a powerful combination of aerial maneuvers and carving turns. His win, coupled with bronze medals from fellow Australians Morgan Cibilic and Sally Fitzgibbons, was enough to clinch the overall team gold. This victory further solidifies Australia’s status as the most successful nation in the history of the World Surfing Games, adding to their 2024 junior team triumph also held in El Salvador.
Historic Gold for Spain and Individual Brilliance
On the women’s side, Janire Gonzalez-Etxabarri etched her name in surfing history by winning Spain’s first-ever ISA World Surfing Games gold medal. The 20-year-old’s impressive performance in the final, with a 14.57 heat total, saw her edge out strong competitors like Yolanda Hopkins of Portugal and Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia. Gonzalez-Etxabarri’s breakthrough not only secured individual glory but also helped Spain match their best-ever team finish with a bronze medal in 2017. The event also saw notable performances from Kauli Vaast of France, who took silver in the men’s competition, and Arena Rodriguez of Peru, who earned a copper medal, becoming the fourth Peruvian woman to medal at the event.
Event Highlights and Future Outlook
The 2025 ISA World Surfing Games, held at the renowned La Bocana break in Surf City, El Salvador, provided consistent, powerful waves throughout the competition. The event highlighted the growing global talent in surfing, with athletes from various nations pushing the boundaries of the sport. ISA President Fernando Aguerre praised El Salvador’s hosting capabilities and the unifying spirit of the event, emphasizing surfing’s role in fostering friendship and development. The competition also served as a crucial platform for athletes aiming for future Olympic Games, underscoring the sport’s increasing prominence on the international stage.
Sources
- Dane Henry leads Australia to team gold on final day of 2025 ISA World Surfing Games, Olympics.com.
- Stakes rise as top surfers exit main round on sixth competition day, Olympics.com.
- Australia Crowned Team World Champion at the 2025 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games, Surfing Victoria.
