Layne Beachley
| Layne Beachley | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | 24-05-1972 (age 52) |
| Birth name | Tania Maris Gardner |
| Residence | Manly, New South Wales, Australia |
| Surfing specifications | |
| Major achievements | 7x World Champion 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006 |
Layne Collette Beachley is a former professional surfer from Manly, New South Wales. She won the World Championship seven times. Currently she is one of the four vice presidents of the International Surfing Association (ISA) and sits on the organization's Executive Committee.[1]
Surfing career
At the age of 16 Beachley became a professional surfer. By the age of 20 she was ranked sixth in the world. Beachley became the Women's ASP World Champion in 1998, and won the title again in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2006. She is the first woman in history to gain 7 World Championships, six of them consecutive.
In 2004, Layne was given a wildcard entry into the Energy Australia Open held at Newcastle, one of the rare occasions a woman has competed in a men's surfing event.[2]
In 2006, Layne was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame. [3]
Beachley announced on 10 October 2008 that she would retire due to her age.[4]
Film appearances
She has appeared in the movies Blue Crush (2002), Billabong Odyssey (2003), Step into Liquid (2003), and the 2001 documentary 7 Girls.[5]
Personal life
Layne Beachley was born Tania Maris Gardner on 24 May 1972 in Sydney.[6] Her mother was only 17 years old and unmarried so she was soon adopted by Neil and Valerie Beachley, who lived in nearby Manly. When Layne was only six years old, Valerie suffered a post-operative brain hemorrhage and died, leaving Layne and her brother to be raised by a family friend.[7] Beachley has spoken publicly about personal struggles, including the fact that she was conceived during a date rape and later adopted out. She met her biological mother for the first time in 1999.[8] Beachley was brought up in the competitive Manly surfing scene and was competing and winning against men's heats at 15. It is thought that here is where she had developed her strength and style that would make her an unbeaten world champion and big wave rider. Beachley was always available when possible for any worthwhile cause in the community whether it was for sewerage outfall protests or promoting the sport and charities that she is close to.[9]
She married Kirk Pengilly, a member of the Australian rock group INXS, in October 2010.[10]
Recognition
Beachley received the Laureus World Alternative Sportsperson of the Year Award in 2004 and was named the Extreme Female Athlete of the Year as part of the Teen Choice Awards in 2005. She was inducted into both the Australian and US surfing halls of fame in 2006, and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2011.[11][12] In 2006 she was also inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame as that year's Woman of the Year; the Walk is in Huntington Beach, California. [13]
At the 2015 Australia Day Honours, Beachley was appointed a Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the community through support for a range of charitable organisations, as a mentor for women in sport, and to surfing as a world champion competitor.[14][15] She was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for her back to back world titles in 1998 and 1999.[16]
References
- ↑ "ISA Committees". International Surfing Association. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ↑ Tracks, June 2004, articles "Get ya own tour" page 29, and Newcastle's Greatest Hits page 78.
- ↑ http://www.hsssurf.com/shof/?cat=18
- ↑ http://www.surf.co.nz/news/local/news.asp?newsletterId=6635
- ↑ "Layne Beachley Filmography". imdb.com. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ↑ "Layne Beachley". encyclopediaofsurfing.com. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ↑ "Layne Beachley Biography". imdb.com. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ↑ http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/09/29/19941_news.html
- ↑ "Australian Story - Walking on Water". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 July 2003. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ↑ Sharp, Annette (29 November 2008). "Layne Beachley and Kirk Pengilly announce their engagement". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney: News Limited). Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ↑ "Layne Beachley". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ↑ "Layne Beachley". Laureus World Sports Awards. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
- ↑ http://surfingwalkoffame.com/woman.html
- ↑ "Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in the General Division" (pdf). Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia. 26 January 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ↑ "Beachley rides top of Australia Day honours". Sky News Australia. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ↑ "Layne Beachley". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 23 August 2000. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
External links
- [www.laynebeachley.com/ Official website]
- Layne Beachley on Twitter
- Layne Beachley on Facebook
- Layne Beachley at the Internet Movie Database
- Aim for the Stars Foundation
- Interview of Layne by pro surfer Amee Donohoe