Johanne Defay facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johanne Defay
Johanne Defay at the 2016 US Open of Surfing
Personal information
Born	(1993-11-19) 19 November 1993 (age 31) Le Puy-en-Velay, France
Residence	La Réunion, France
Height	5 ft 5.6 in (1.67 m)
Weight	134 lb (61 kg)
Surfing career
Best year	Ranked #3 WSL CT World Tour – 2022
Sponsors	Wakanda, GoPro Cameras, Smith Optics, Superdry Surf Company, Smoothstar Skateboards, Tim Spirit, Seventyone Percent Skincare
Major achievements	US Open of Surfing 2015 champion WSL Championship Tour event wins: 6
Surfing specifications
Stance	Natural (regular) foot
Shaper(s)	Channel Islands
Medal record Women's surfing Representing  France Olympic Games Bronze 2024 Paris Shortboard World Games Gold 2017 Biarritz Team Silver 2017 Biarritz Women Silver 2023 La Bocana Team Silver 2024 Arecibo Team Bronze 2023 La Bocana Women Bronze 2024 Arecibo Women

Johanne Defay (born 19 November 1993) is a French professional surfer. She was born in Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne region of France. She qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games where she won bronze.

She began surfing at the age of 8 off the beaches of Reunion Island, which is her home today. After Johanne's first competition when she was only ten years old, she quickly moved through the European amateur ranks to eventually take on the WSL World Qualifying Series. In 2008 Defay almost gave up competing. She was finding it difficult to transition from the juniors to the WQS and then the economy crashed causing many surf companies cancel their sponsorships. At that time, Johanne found herself without sponsors and also without decent results. However, with her parents’ encouragement, Johanne was able to qualify for the World Championship Tour within two years.

She has won five World Surf League events, the Vans US Open of Surfing 2015, the Fiji Women's Pro 2016, Uluwatu CT 2018, the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro 2021 and the Quiksilver/ROXY Pro G-Land 2022.

Competitive highlights

• 2024 Bronze Medal Olympics - Paris (Tahiti)
• 2016 WSL 2016 Rank: 5
• 2016 1st Fiji Women's Pro – Fiji
• 2016 3rd Roxy Pro Gold Coast – Australia
• 2015 8th World Championship Tour
• 2015 3rd Fiji Women's Pro – Fiji
• 2015 5th Rip Curl Pro Bell's Beach – Australia
• 2015 1st Vans US Open of Surfing – California
• 2015 5th Cascais Women's Pro – Portugal
• 2015 5th Roxy Pro – France
• 2014 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – 8th on Final Ranking
• 2014 3rd Swatch Women's Pro – California
• 2014 3rd Roxy Pro – France
• 2014 5th Fiji Women's Pro – Fiji
• 2014 5th Vans US Open of Surfing – California
• 2014 5th Cascais Women's Pro – Portugal
• 2014 5th Target Maui Pro – Hawaii
• 2013 3rd Junior World Championship Florianopolis – Brazil
• 2013 1st France Champion Brétignolles sur Mer – France
• 2013 1st Pontevedra Junior Pro Surf – Spain
• 2013 Open European Champion
• 2013 Junior European Champion
• 2013 Finalist of the 6 stars WQS Swatch Girls Pro – France
• 2013 1st Swatch Girls Junior Pro – France
• 2013 1st Soöruz Junior Pro – France
• 2013 1st Gijòn Junior Pro – Spain
• 2013 2nd O’Neil Junior Pro – Spain
• 2013 1st Soöruz Junior Pro – France
• 2013 4th Coupe de France – France

Career victories

WCT Wins
Year	Event	Venue	Country
2024	MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal	Supertubos, Peniche	Portugal
2022	Quiksilver/ROXY Pro G-Land	G-Land, Banyuwangi	Indonesia
2021	Jeep Surf Ranch Pro	Lemoore, California	United States
2018	Uluwatu CT - Women's	Uluwatu, Bali	Indonesia
2016	Fiji Women's Pro	Namotu, Tavarua	Fiji
2015	Women's Vans US Open of Surfing	Huntington Beach, California	United States

WSL World Championship Tour