Can Caroline Marks Win Olympic Gold and the World Title in the Same Year?
In July 2021, Carissa Moore became the first female to win an Olympic gold medal for surfing. About six weeks later she won her fifth world title in the first-ever WSL Finals at Lower Trestles. And now, after winning Olympic gold in Tahiti last month, Caroline Marks has an opportunity to repeat the historic feat. Coming into the 2024 Lexus WSL Finals as the number two seed, SURFER caught up with Marks to talk about her whirlwind year, how she regains focus after the Games, and what it's going to take to earn back-to-back world titles:
SURFER: A gold medal, back in the WSL Finals, defending your world title, how you feeling?
Caroline Marks: I feel great. A huge goal of mine this year was to get back in the Finals and defend my title. I’m really grateful and excited for the opportunity.
Since the gold medal whirlwind, last month, have you been able to settle down and focus on the Finals?
For awhile it was a bit crazy, and it’s been so busy since, but right now I’m just trying to focus on defending my world title. I feel like I still have some celebrating to do with the gold medal. I did get over to Paris, which was really fun. But I think there’s still some really cool media opportunities coming up once the season’s over. I just haven’t had time to get to it yet. I had a couple of media days right after, a day in New York and a couple days in Paris, but still definitely feeling the high from all of that, for sure. I feel like I will be feeling that forever maybe. It’s pretty crazy.
It’s been a quick turn around with two major events back to back.
It was a very quick turnaround. It’s kind of crazy to go from that high point, to refocusing really quickly and going into another event that means so much to me. I feel like I’m trying to carry all that momentum and confidence into this week for the Finals. Being home for the last week has been amazing. Sleeping in my own bed, being around my friends and family, and getting into a good routine. I’m excited for game day, I’m ready.
And game day is coming up straight away?
I think Friday’s the go.
Related: WSL Finals Surf Forecast: Possible Run Day Set For September 6
Surf looks like it’ll be a little smaller than last year, feeling good about the forecast?
Yeah, for sure. I feel like I have really good equipment, and obviously, I’ve been surfing Lowers a lot. Lowers is such a fun wave at any size, so hopefully Friday over delivers and we get some waves. But whatever it’s like, I’m excited and I think there will some amazing performances regardless of conditions. Most importantly, I have some really good equipment and that’s exciting.
What’s something you learned from last year that you can carry into this year?
The day of the event goes really fast, so I think for me, it’s to be in the moment, really focus on every heat and not get too ahead of myself. I feel like I did a really good job of that last year and I want to carry that into this year. Basically I want to repeat what I did last year. Surf really hard, compete really hard, and give it a good go.
On a day that goes so fast, how to stay focused, reset before heats and keep the mind and body in sync?
You try and be in the moment, and every heat is such a big moment, so as you keep continuing on you have to learn from what you did before, reassess the conditions, and be really good at adapting. You’re in attack mode all day, but also trying to be in the moment.
Last year you built rhythm and momentum throughout the day, how important is that?
If you’re not the number one seed you have that opportunity to build momentum and get a good read on the conditions. I do feel like last year I got better with each heat and built momentum, so I think coming in with the number two seed is a great position to be in. Hopefully I can put in some great performances, and hopefully it’s my day.
Related: Stop Asking Caity Simmers Dumb Questions
Related: World No. 1 John John Florence Talks Titles, Lowers and Olympic Surfing