13-Year-Old Surfing Prodigy Leihani Zoric Targets LA 2028 Gold

Thirteen-year-old Leihani Zoric has transformed from a childhood admirer of surfing legends into a formidable competitor in her own right. The Indigenous Australian teenager is currently competing at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games in Peru, where she represents Australia alongside some of the sport's most decorated athletes. Her presence on the senior national team marks a significant milestone in a meteoric rise that has already seen her claim the title of the youngest-ever junior world champion.

Growing up in Broken Head, New South Wales, Zoric idolized Stephanie Gilmore and Tyler Wright, two of the greatest female surfers in history. Now, those idols are her teammates. At the qualification event serving as a pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, Zoric shares the lineup with Gilmore, who is 38, and Wright, a two-time World Surf League champion. Despite the vast age gap between herself and her veteran counterparts, Zoric remains undaunted by the challenge.

Zoric’s ascent began in September when she represented Australia at the ISA junior world titles. Although initially ineligible for the under-16 category, the eighth-grade student received a wildcard entry into the under-18 division. She seized the opportunity, winning the title and becoming the youngest person ever to hold the junior world championship. This victory immediately propelled her into the senior national team, placing her among WSL regulars Ethan Ewing, Liam O’Brien, and George Pittar.

In Peru, Zoric faces surfers who are often twice her age or older. However, she views the competition not as an intimidation factor, but as a unique opportunity to showcase her skills against the best in the world. She expressed excitement rather than nervousness, stating her belief that anything is possible if one backs their abilities. Her goal is to prove that she can compete at the highest level, regardless of the experience of her opponents.

The path to the Los Angeles Olympics is complex, with qualification spots reserved for World Surf League competitors. If the Australian team performs well in Peru, additional spots may open up, potentially securing Zoric’s place on the Olympic roster. By the time the Games arrive, she will be just 15 years old, still midway through her high school studies. Yet, her focus remains singular: winning gold at the LA Olympics.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Zoric is a trailblazer for Indigenous representation in sports. Her recent ISA win made her Australia’s first Aboriginal world surfing champion. She has also won the Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles twice and was named junior sportsperson of the year at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards. These accolades hold deep personal significance, as her Yued culture is a central part of her identity and athletic development.

Zoric has long envisioned representing her dual heritage on the global stage. She recalls telling her kindergarten teacher as a child that she would become the first Aboriginal surfing champion. Inspired by Soli Bailey, who previously surfed in the WSL wearing both flags, Zoric aims to wear both the Aboriginal and Australian flags on her jersey when she eventually joins the World Surf League. She identifies 2029, when she will be 16, as a potential debut year for the professional tour.

While young prodigies like Erin Brooks, Caitlin Simmers, and Tya Zebrowski have dominated the WSL before turning 20, with Zebrowski making her tour debut this year aged just 15, Zoric insists she is in no hurry to rush her career. She refuses to participate merely to make up the numbers, aiming instead to dominate and win world titles upon her arrival. She emphasizes the importance of being fully prepared for challenging breaks like Teahupo’o and Pipeline, preferring to take extra time to qualify if necessary rather than risk unpreparedness.

Despite her intense ambition, Zoric maintains a pragmatic perspective on her future. Should surfing not work out, she has a clear alternative plan: becoming a doctor. For now, however, her attention is fixed on the present steps leading toward her ultimate goal. With each wave ridden in Peru, the 13-year-old continues to close the distance between her childhood dreams and Olympic reality.

“Indigenous Australian teen Leihani Zoric, the youngest junior world champion, aims for Olympic gold at age 15.”