Johanne Defay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Johanne Defay |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Johanne Defay at the 2016 US Open of Surfing
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 19 November 1993 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 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Surfing specifications | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stance | Natural (regular) foot | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shaper(s) | Channel Islands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Johanne Defay (born 19 November 1993) is a super talented professional surfer from France. She was born in Le Puy-en-Velay and now lives on La Réunion island. Johanne is an amazing athlete who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Contents
Johanne's Surfing Journey
Johanne started surfing when she was just 8 years old, riding waves off the beautiful beaches of Reunion Island. She loved it so much that she entered her first competition at age ten! She quickly became one of the best young surfers in Europe.
Overcoming Challenges
When Johanne was a teenager, she faced some tough times. It was hard to move from junior competitions to the bigger, professional World Qualifying Series (WQS) events. Many surf companies also stopped their sponsorships because of money problems. This left Johanne without sponsors and not getting the results she hoped for.
But Johanne didn't give up! With lots of encouragement from her parents, she worked even harder. Within two years, she managed to qualify for the World Championship Tour (WCT), which is the highest level of professional surfing. This shows how determined she is!
Major Wins and Achievements
Johanne Defay has won many important surfing competitions around the world. She has won six events on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. These big wins show she is one of the top surfers globally.
Championship Tour Victories
Here are some of Johanne's biggest wins on the World Championship Tour:
| 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 |
Olympic and World Games Medals
Johanne has also won medals for her country, France, in major international events:
- 2024 Bronze Medal at the Olympic Games in Paris (held in Tahiti)
- 2017 Gold Medal at the World Surfing Games (Team event)
- 2017 Silver Medal at the World Surfing Games (Women's event)
- 2023 Silver Medal at the World Surfing Games (Team event)
- 2024 Silver Medal at the World Surfing Games (Team event)
- 2023 Bronze Medal at the World Surfing Games (Women's event)
- 2024 Bronze Medal at the World Surfing Games (Women's event)
Other Notable Results
Throughout her career, Johanne has consistently performed well. She was named "Rookie of the Year" in 2014, which means she was the best new surfer on the tour that year. She has often finished in the top 5 or top 10 in many events, showing her skill and consistency. In 2022, she reached her highest ranking, finishing #3 in the world on the WSL Championship Tour.
