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Sally Fitzgibbons reduced to tears in devastating scenes at Olympics

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Sally Fitzgibbons, pictured here bursting into tears after being eliminated from the surfing event at the Olympics.
Sally Fitzgibbons burst into tears after being eliminated from the surfing event at the Olympics. Image: Getty/Channel 7

Sally Fitzgibbons has broken down in tears after a devastating loss in the quarter-finals of the surfing event at the Tokyo Olympics.

Fitzgibbons has suffered a shock loss to Japan's Amuro Tsuzuki on Tuesday, ending the Aussie star's dreams of winning an Olympic medal.

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Fitzgibbons couldn't find the 7.10 wave score she needed and Tsuzuki hung on for a 13.27 to 11.67 win.

The Aussie star was clearly devastated as she was consoled by her teammates on the beach, including Steph Gilmore - who was eliminated on Monday.

Fitzgibbons then burst into tears during an interview with Channel 7 when asked about the support of her family.

"I just want to say thanks so much," she said through tears.

"Thanks for the sacrifices and just being in my corner all the way.

"I surfed every wave for you out there."

Tsuzuki will need another huge upset against American favourite Carissa Moore in the semi-finals.

American Caroline Marks takes on South African Bianca Buitendag in the other semi.

Fitzgibbons' loss left Owen Wright as the last Australian alive in the surfing, with the medals to be decided on Tuesday afternoon.

Wright set up a semi-final showdown with Brazilian Italo Fereira after beating Peruvian Lucca Mesinas 16.30 to 11.90 earlier on Tuesday.

The men's and women's finals were moved forward by one day because of the conditions generated by tropical storm Nepartak.

Steph Gilmore, pictured here consoling Sally Fitzgibbons after her loss.
Steph Gilmore consoles Sally Fitzgibbons after her loss. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

More heartbreak for Australia in Olympics surfing

Seven-time world champion Gilmore had hoped to add the first Olympic gold medal to her trophy haul, but was surprisingly eliminated in the third round by unheralded South African Bianca Buitendag.

Despite her unrivalled experience, 33-year-old Gilmore rued a decision to pass up wave priority to Buitendag, who used it to nail the best score of the clash.

Gilmore said it was tough to have to wait three years for another Olympic chance, but didn't think age would be an impediment, citing fellow star surfer Kelly Slater, who is 49, as well as 39-year-old Williams.

Slater dips in and out of the world tour while WIlliams, who has won 23 grand slam titles, qualified for the Olympics, but decided not to compete.

"This is the world's biggest sporting stage so you want to show up and do your very best so I'm super disappointed that I couldn't make it happen, but there's always Paris," Gilmore said.

"I'm only 33 and there's plenty of amazing female athletes who get up into their forties - look at Serena Williams, she's still doing so well so there's plenty of time.

"To come here and be an Olympian is obviously very special but to not get the result I wanted I'm already thinking 'What did I do wrong, what can I do better (and) how do I come back and try again'."

with AAP

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