Sally Fitzgibbons hailed grieving Mick Fanning as an inspiration after his gallant quest for a fourth world surfing title came up just short at the Banzai Pipeline.
Leading the tributes for her friend and countryman, Fitzgibbons said Fanning remained a hero to all Australians despite bowing out in the semis of the Pipe Masters just a day after learning of the death of his older brother Peter.
Peter's passing came 17 years after another of his three older brothers, Sean, died in a car accident and four months after Fanning survived his own brush with mortality while attacked by a shark in South Africa.
"Mick is an incredible inspiration, not only as an athlete but a person," said Fitzgibbons, a three-time world championship runner-up who finished third in the women's title race in 2015.
"He's overcome so much adversity this year and unfortunately that title wasn't his today but everyone's heart is with him."
Fitzgibbons was preparing for the launch of her Sally Fitzgibbons Foundation on Friday morning but took time out to watch Fanning take down 11-time world champion Kelly Slater in the quarter-finals in Hawaii before losing to Brazilian Gabriel Medina.
Another Brazilian, Adriano de Souza, overtook Fanning on the overall standings.
"We were willing him on. All of Australia was getting behind Mick," said Fitzgibbons.
"Mick's been entwined in my career since I was a young age and just having him sort of oversee my career on tour and always being there to lend an ear or a hug or just be a part of the ride, it shows how caring and how much he wants to give back.
"He's a champion. All the titles aside, everything aside, he's just a really amazing person."
Share
