On Dec. 26, 2010, Steph Gilmore was invincible. The then-22-year-old Australian known as Happy Gilmore had just been crowned ASP world champ for the fourth year in a row and was fresh off her third-straight Triple Crown title. She was weeks away from announcing a move to Quiksilver, where she would become teammates with 10-time world champ Kelly Slater and earn the richest contract in women's surf history: $5 million over five years. Her confidence and happiness were at all-time highs. On Dec. 27, her life changed. That day, Gilmore was attacked outside of her home in Coolangatta, New South Wales, Australia. For the first time, Gilmore opens up about the attack, surfing again and what it's been like to have her invincibility tested:
"A few days before the attack, a couple friends said to me, 'With everything going so well, you should think about moving to a more secure apartment. You never know what's around the corner.' I was like, 'Oh, okay, maybe.' That night, I was supposed to go to the movies with a friend, but there was a change of plans, so I turned around and went home. I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. I have to walk through a public car park to get to my apartment and I noticed a guy I hadn't seen before. I didn't take much notice, but when I saw him a second time, we made eye contact. I got a gut feeling that wasn't cool with him. When I got to the stairs that lead to my apartment, I turned around and saw him sprinting at me with a metal bar in his hand and he hit me twice. The first time, he hit me in the head. I saw blood all over everything. I put my left wrist up to protect myself and the second hit snapped my ulna and tore ligaments in my wrist. I looked down and saw a big lump on my wrist. My body went into survival mode and, at the time, I didn't feel pain.
My auntie lives next door and she and some relatives had just come home from dinner. They heard me scream and ran down and chased him. He rode away on a BMX bike. By the time I got to the hospital, half of Coolangata was out searching for the guy. I am lucky to have the best crew to look out for me. He must have been crazy because he came back to the area and they caught him. The police took it from there. He's been denied bail three times, but the case hasn't gone to trial yet. Knowing he's locked up helps.
At the hospital, I remember being absolutely horrified to go home. I didn't want to go home ever. Those were the first thoughts -- to go from feeling so independent and comfortable to, 'Oh my god. I don't want to walk to my apartment anymore.' How do you go home? How do you face reenacting that? I get goose bumps every time I think about it ... sorry. I cry every time I talk about it. I never used to tear up, even in movies. But this has brought the emotion out of me. I've always been a really positive person and this has been a real test of that. The police officers said the best thing you can do is not let him take your freedom. So I went home the next day. I had a giant sleepover for the next three weeks.
For the full Gilmore interview log on to ESPN.com
Photo : Raphael Lereverend / Freaksurf Mag
