The world surfing title defence of Stephanie Gilmore appears over after it was revealed the Australian will miss the upcoming Fiji Pro event.
Gilmore hasn't competed since injuring her knee in a free surf during a lay day at the Margaret River Pro in West Australia in April.
The six-time world champion sustained multiple hairline fractures through her fibula and tibia in the accident as well as bone bruising and tendinitis.
Since the injury occurred Gilmore says she hasn't surfed at all and in that time she's missed the Rio Pro, won by American Courtney Conlogue, and dropped to fourth on the World Surf League rankings.
WSL deputy commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer confirmed on Thursday the defending world champion wouldn't be competing at Cloudbreak for the event starting on May 31.
"Steph Gilmore has withdrawn from the Fiji Women's Pro," Miley-Dyer said.
"Keely Andrew has accepted the position as injury replacement."
Sunshine Coast product Andrew also replaced Gilmore in Rio where she reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by rankings leader and two-time world champion Carissa Moore.
Gilmore's absence means she will only have five events left to close the gap on Moore, who has already picked up two wins, a second and third in the four events this year.
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