Mick Fanning showed remarkable mental strength under extraordinary circumstances, only to be denied a fourth surfing world title by the boys from Brazil.
Fanning was eliminated in the semi-finals of the Pipe Masters in Hawaii on Thursday (Friday AEDT) by Gabriel Medina, opening the door for fellow Brazilian Adriano de Souza to claim his first world crown.
De Souza clinched the title by edging Hawaiian Mason Ho in the other semi, before icing the victory by downing Medina 14.07 points to 8.50 in the final to become the first Brazilian to win the iconic Pipe Masters event.
Fanning, who was competing just a day after being informed of the death of his elder brother Peter, reached the semi-finals with a 9.50 to 6.17 victory over American 11-time world champion and seven-time Pipe Masters winner Kelly Slater.
It seemed at that stage that destiny might be shifting in Fanning's favour at the end of a tough year which included him surviving a shark attack in South Africa.
His conquest of Slater eliminated Medina from title contention, but the defending champion would still play a decisive role in determining who succeeded him.
Fanning led Medina for most of their semi-final, only for the Brazilian to score a 6.50 from his last wave with a spectacular full rotation and earn a 11.33 to 10.36 victory.
It was one of the few memorable manoeuvres on a day when the tricky surf threw up few big barrels.
De Souza needed to win the second semi against Ho to pass Fanning in the standings and duly did so, showing patience in his wave selection.
Speaking before the semi-finals, Fanning gave an insight into the emotional burden he was carrying.
"I was almost in tears every time I'm paddling out," he said.
"Even out in the water, just going through waves of emotion.
"But a friend told me once we can deal with anything, and you've just got to do it the best you can and stay true to yourself and things will happen."
De Souza finished the year on 57,700 points followed by Fanning (54,650), Medina (51,600), another Brazilian Filipe Toledo (50,950) and Australians Owen Wright (43,600) and Julian Wilson (42,700).
The new champion was gracious in his acknowledgment of Fanning.
"For one part of the year Mick was most deserving to win this world title," de Souza said.
"For me he's the strongest man I've ever met in my whole life.
"He had so many personal things happen going on, but he was a true champion.
"He put everything aside and he focused on the water."
Back in Australia, 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo was among those to praise Fanning for his mental toughness.
"Mick is amazing, he is like nobody else," Occhilupo told the Seven Network.
"He is so strong minded, he has trained to absolute perfection, he is so fit, that makes his mind strong."
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