Maya Gabeira facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maya Gabeira |
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Gabeira in Washington D.C in 2014
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| Personal information | |
| Born | Maya Reis Gabeira April 10, 1987 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Residence | Portugal |
| Height | 1.68 m (5.5 ft) |
| Weight | 56 kg (123 lb) |
| Surfing career | |
| Major achievements | Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Award (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012) ESPY Award (Best Female Action Sports Athlete (2009) Teen Choice Awards 2010 |
Maya Reis Gabeira is an amazing Brazilian big wave surfer. She was born on April 10, 1987. Maya is famous for riding some of the biggest waves in the world.
She holds the Guinness World Records title for the largest wave ever surfed by a woman. This incredible wave was 22.4 m (73 ft) high! She surfed it in Nazaré, Portugal in February 2020. Before that, she also held the record for a 20.8 m (68 ft) wave from January 2018. Maya has won many awards, like the ESPY award for being the Best Female Action Sports Athlete.
Contents
Maya Gabeira's Surfing Journey
Starting Out in Surfing
Maya Gabeira began surfing when she was 13 years old in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. By the time she was 15, she started competing in surfing contests. In 2004, at age 17, she decided to become a professional surfer. She moved to Australia and then to Hawaii that same year. This allowed her to surf some of the world's best and biggest waves.
Conquering Giant Waves
Maya quickly became known as the top female big-wave surfer. She bravely surfed challenging spots around the world. These places include Mavericks in California and Waimea in Hawaii. She also surfed at Todos Santos and a famous spot in South Africa called "Dungeons."
Awards and Amazing Feats
Maya won the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards four times in a row. She won from 2007 to 2010 for being the Best Female Performer. In 2008, she made history by being the first woman to surf big waves in Alaska. She was also the first woman to surf California's Ghost Trees and Tahiti's Teahupoo.
In 2009, Maya won the ESPY award for Best Female Action Sports Athlete. Later that year, she rode a 14 m (46 ft) wave at Dungeons in South Africa. This was the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman at that time. In 2010, she received the Teen Choice Award for Best Female Action Sports Star. She won the XXL Big Wave Awards for Girls Best Overall Performance for the fifth time in 2012.
A Challenging Moment
On October 28, 2013, Maya had a very serious accident. She nearly drowned while surfing a huge wave at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal. Luckily, her fellow surfer, Carlos Burle, saved her. She had to be helped on the beach and taken to the hospital. In 2016, a documentary called Return to Nazaré showed her brave return to Nazaré after the accident.
Breaking World Records
In January 2018, Maya surfed a 20.8 m (68 ft) wave in Nazaré. This was officially recorded by Guinness World Records as the biggest wave surfed by a woman. Then, on February 11, 2020, she set a new Guinness World Record. She surfed an incredible 22.4 m (73.5 ft) wave during a WSL contest in Nazaré. This wave was also the biggest wave surfed by anyone that year!
Maya's amazing story was featured in the 2022 documentary film Maya and the Wave. In 2022, she was also named a UNESCO Champion for Ocean and Youth. This means she helps protect the ocean and inspires young people.
Maya's Family Life
Maya Gabeira's father is Fernando Gabeira. He is one of the people who started the Green Party of Brazil. Her mother, Yamê Reis, is a fashion designer.
See also
In Spanish: Maya Gabeira para niños
