Jack Robinson

Jack Robinson has been turning heads on the beach since 2011, when the tiny grommet with a shock of blonde hair was described as the best 12-year-old surfer on the planet.

The youngster from Western Australia’s Margaret River region appeared on the cover of The Weekend Australian Magazine, sporting a cheeky grin, with the cover line declaring: “Australia’s freakishly talented Jack Robinson is tipped to be a future world surfing champion”.

Introduced to surfing in Margaret River’s heavy tubes, Jack quickly learnt to navigate even the biggest waves with poise and calm assurance, developing a powerful, aggressive style.

When he was 14, he was ranked No.1 in Surfer Magazine’s annual Hot 100 junior list. A year later, the world’s best surfers began taking notice of him when he competed as a wildcard at the 2013 Oakley Bali Pro.

"I lost to Kelly Slater," Jack said. "I thought I could beat him, and I was 15."

Since joining the WSL Qualification Series in 2019, Jack's surfing has gone from strength to strength. Initially known for his tube sense, he has added skills above and below the lip to his repertoire.

In 2021, his rookie year on the Championship Tour, he broke through for his maiden win at the Corona Open in Mexico, finishing the season ranked 12th in the world.

He kept this momentum going in 2022 to claim a famous win on his home break at the Margaret River Pro, before going back-to-back to take out the G-Land Pro in Indonesia. Jack qualified for the WSL Finals and finished 2022 ranked third in the world.

He opened 2023 with the highlight of his career to date, taking out the Pipeline Pro, beating Gabriel Medina, John John Florence and Leonardo Fioravanti.

Ranked world No.1 coming into Bells Beach, Jack was on track for his best season ever. But a lay-up gone wrong at the Victorian beach left him with a badly injured knee and kept him out of the water for four months.

Jack is known as a bit of a shaman on tour – he meditates cross-legged on the beach before his heats and in the water his ability to remain calm under pressure is what makes him such a fierce competitor – but recovering from a long-term injury put his emotional strength to the test.

“I had to give my everything for the recovery so I could qualify for the 2024 Olympics,” he said. “It was really challenging as I was putting in four or five hours of physio/rehab work a day, but we got through it and I’m so happy to have qualified for the Olympics and have the chance to bring a medal to Australia.”

Jack recovered in time to scrape into the 2023 WSL finals, finishing fifth, and he started the Olympic year in strong form, ranked No.2 in the world after winning the 2024 Sunset Beach Pro in Hawaii. It was his sixth career Championship Tour title.

“It’s been a crazy last few months, had a baby and everything before coming here and it’s all new and I’m just adapting and living this moment,” he said.

For Jack to compete in surfing in the Paris 2024 Olympics, it was held 16,000km away from the city of Paris in the French territory of Tahiti.

Home to the world renowned Teahupoʻo reef, for its big and powerful breaking waves, that's where Jack achieved Australia's best-ever result in Olympic surfing by taking out the men's silver medal.

He was only held off gold by 22-year-old Teahupo'o local Kauli Vaast (FRA) in the gold medal round.

“I feel amazing," Jack said hours after the event. "It's such a long ride that I've been on and it's really just getting into the best part of it right now.

"Hopefully the gold will be won next time."

On his path to the final Jack was unfortunately pitted against fellow countryman Ethan Ewing in the quarter-finals, scoring 15.33 to Ethan’s 13.00.

Jack was also in one of the most recognised photos of the Olympic Games, taken while he was exiting a wave in mid-air in the third round.