Caroline Marks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caroline Marks |
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Marks in 2015
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | February 14, 2002 Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. |
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| Residence | San Clemente, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 127 lb (58 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Surfing career | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best year | 1st: 2023 – WSL World Champion | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sponsors | Red Bull, Oakley, Roxy | |||||||||||||||||||
| Major achievements |
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| Surfing specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Goofy | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Caroline Marks was born on February 14, 2002. She is an American professional surfer. Caroline is the champion of the 2023 World Surf League Women's World Tour. She also won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Caroline has won many national surfing championships. She was the youngest woman to ever compete in a World Surf League event. She also became the youngest surfer to join the women's Championship Tour. She competed among the top 16 surfers in the World Surf League. In 2018, she finished 7th and was named Rookie of the Year. Caroline lives in San Clemente, California.
In 2019, Caroline was chosen for the first United States surfing team. This team competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, she won the gold medal in the women's shortboard event.
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Caroline's Early Life
Caroline Marks' mother and grandmother grew up in Greece. Her mother later moved to the United States. Caroline was born in Florida. She is the third of six children in her family.
Her childhood home had a big backyard with a motorbike track and a halfpipe. A surf break was right across the street. She first loved sports like barrel racing. She started surfing in competitions when she was 8 years old.
Caroline and her siblings always supported each other's interests. Her older brother, Zach, created a social media site for kids called Grom Social when he was 12. Caroline helped make pictures and characters for the site. She still posts on Grom Social, sharing her adventures. Her family, especially her brothers, often cheered her on at competitions. Caroline says her brothers helped her become a great surfer. She wanted to impress them when she was little.
Caroline's Surfing Career
Starting Strong in 2018
In 2018, Caroline's first year on the tour, she finished third in three different events. She was named Rookie of the Year. She ended the season ranked seventh in the world.
Big Wins in 2019
In April 2019, Caroline won her first World Surf League event. She beat seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore in Australia. Then she defeated three-time world champion Carissa Moore in the finals. This win made her the world's top-ranked female surfer at the start of the 2019 season.
Caroline was the first surfer to receive Team USA's Best of April Award. This award honors top Olympic athletes. Chris Stone, the USA Surfing head coach, said that Caroline was clearly going to be a world champion from a young age. He was excited to see what she would achieve.
2019 World Championship Tour
In December 2019, Caroline finished second on the WSL Championship tour. Carissa Moore won that year. By finishing second, Caroline earned a spot on the team for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Olympic Journey in 2021
Caroline was the youngest surfer to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics. These games were held in July and August 2021.
In the first round of the shortboard competition, Caroline scored 13.40 points. She won her heat and moved directly to round three. In the third round, she won against Mahina Maeda with a score of 15.33. This was the highest score of any surfer, male or female, in that round.
Caroline then won her quarterfinal heat against Brisa Hennessy. She scored 12.50 points and moved to the semi-finals. However, she did not win her semi-final match against Bianca Buitendag. Caroline then competed for the bronze medal. She finished fourth overall after Amuro Tsuzuki won the bronze.
Health Break in 2022
In February 2022, Caroline took time off from the tour. She needed to deal with some health issues. She missed half of the season that year. Because of this, she did not qualify for the WSL Finals.
Olympic Gold in 2024
Caroline won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The surfing event took place at Teahupo'o Reef Pass in Tahiti. She proudly represented Team USA.
Caroline's Career Victories
Caroline has achieved many wins in her surfing career.
| WSL Finals Wins | |||
| Year | Event | Venue | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Rip Curl WSL Finals | Lower Trestles, California |  United States |
| WCT Wins | |||
| Year | Event | Venue | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal | Supertubos, Peniche |  Portugal |
| 2024 | Surf City El Salvador Pro | Punta Roca, La Libertad |  El Salvador |
| 2023 | SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro | Teahupo'o, Tahiti |  French Polynesia |
| 2023 | Surf City El Salvador Pro | Punta Roca, La Libertad | El Salvador |
| 2021 | Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona | Narrabeen, New South Wales |  Australia |
| 2019 | MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal | Supertubos, Peniche | Portugal |
| 2019 | Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast | Gold Coast, Queensland |  Australia |
| WQS Wins | |||
| Year | Event | Venue | Country |
| 2022 | U.S. Air Force Super Girl Surf Pro | Jacksonville, Florida | United States |
| 2021 | Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro | Oceanside Pier, California | United States |
| 2019 | Florida Pro | Sebastian Inlet, Florida | United States |
| 2018 | Ron Jon Florida Pro | Sebastian Inlet, Florida | United States |
| 2018 | Los Cabos Open of Surf | Zippers, San Jose del Cabo |  Mexico |
| Juniors Wins | |||
| Year | Event | Venue | Country |
| 2016 | Vans US Open of Surfing (W JUN) | Huntington Beach, California | United States |
| 2015 | Junior Women's Vans US Open of Surfing | Huntington Beach, California | United States |
| Olympics | |||
| Year | Event | Venue | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Olympic Surfing Competition | Teahupo'o, Tahiti |  France |
Junior Event Wins
- 2015 US Open Jr. Champion
- 2016 ISA Girls World Champion (U16)
- 2016 US Open Jr. Champion
Open Event Wins
- 2015 Volcom World VQS Champion
- 2x Open Women's NSSA Champion
- 6x Surfing America Champion
- 2x Open Girls NSSA Champion
Caroline's Personal Life
Caroline Marks started a YouTube channel on February 23, 2021. She uploads videos about her surfing adventures there. Her first video showed her surfing with Lakey Peterson.
Caroline believes in equal opportunities for everyone. She also promotes positive body image for young women. She wants to help young people feel good about themselves.
