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 (born April 10, 1987) is a famous Brazilian big wave surfer. She is known for riding some of the biggest waves in the world. Maya holds the incredible Guinness World Record for surfing the largest wave ever by a woman. This amazing feat happened in Nazaré, Portugal, where she rode a wave as tall as a seven-story building! She has also won many awards for her amazing skills in action sports.
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Maya Gabeira: Riding Giant Waves
Maya Gabeira started surfing when she was 13 years old in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. By the time she was 15, she was already competing. In 2004, at age 17, she decided to become a professional surfer. She moved to Hawaii that same year to surf some of the world's most famous and challenging waves.
Maya quickly became one of the best female big-wave surfers globally. She bravely surfed huge waves at famous spots like Mavericks in California, Waimea in Hawaii, and "Dungeons" in South Africa, which is known for its sharks!
Breaking World Records
Maya Gabeira has set amazing records in big wave surfing. In January 2018, she surfed a massive wave in Nazaré, Portugal, that was 20.8 m (68 ft) (about 68 feet) high. This was officially recorded by Guinness World Records as the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman at that time.
But she didn't stop there! On February 11, 2020, Maya broke her own record. She surfed an even bigger wave in Nazaré during a WSL contest. This new record-breaking wave measured an incredible 22.4 m (73 ft) (about 73.5 feet) high. It was also the biggest wave surfed by anyone that year, male or female!
Awards and Achievements
Maya Gabeira has received many awards for her incredible talent and bravery.
- She won the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards for Best Female Performance four times in a row, from 2007 to 2010. She won it a fifth time in 2012.
- In 2008, she made history by becoming the first woman to surf big waves in Alaska. She was also the first woman to surf challenging spots like Ghost Trees in California and Teahupoo in Tahiti.
- In 2009, Maya won an ESPY award for Best Female Action Sports Athlete. This is a very important award in sports.
- She also received a Teen Choice Award in 2010 for Best Female Action Sports Star.
- In 2022, Maya was named a UNESCO Champion for Ocean and Youth. This means she helps protect the ocean and inspires young people.
Overcoming Challenges
Big wave surfing can be very dangerous. On October 28, 2013, Maya had a serious accident while surfing a huge wave in Nazaré, Portugal. She lost consciousness and almost drowned. Luckily, another Brazilian big-wave surfer, Carlos Burle, saved her. She had to be revived on the beach and taken to the hospital. After this accident, Maya showed incredible courage by returning to Nazaré to surf again. A documentary called Return to Nazaré by Red Bull TV was made about her journey back to the waves.
Personal Life
Maya Gabeira's father is Fernando Gabeira, who is one of the people who started the Green Party of Brazil. Her mother, Yamê Reis, is a fashion designer from Brazil.
See also
In Spanish: Maya Gabeira para niños
