Layne Beachley

Layne Beachley is an Australian former professional surfer from Manly, New South Wales, born on 24 May 1972, and the first woman to win seven world championships. She turned professional at 16 and was ranked sixth in the world by 20. She won the women's ASP world title in 1998, in every year from 1999 to 2003 and again in 2006, which makes her the only surfer of either sex to win six consecutive world titles. In 2004 she received a wildcard entry into an open men's event in Newcastle, a rare appearance by a woman. She announced her retirement in October 2008 and now chairs Surfing Australia. She was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame in 2006, received the Laureus World Alternative Sportsperson of the Year Award in 2004 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015.