Despite being just 19 years old at Tokyo 2020, Caroline Marks was already comfortably in the top six places in the World Surfing League rankings - just a few spots below her idol, Carissa Moore.

Born the third of six children, sport has been the centre of Marks' life. According to WSL, their back yard in Florida had a moto track, halfpipe and a surf break across the street that helped ignite her love of the sport.

Marks carved her path on the waves of Melbourne Beach, where she honed the skills that would carry her to making history. At 15 years old, she became the youngest surfer ever to qualify for the women’s Championship tour. Her debut appearance would see her go onto win Rookie of the Year and rank 7th in the world.

In the opening event of the 2019 Championship tour, Marks meant business, and she delivered. Between beating seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore and three-time World Champion at the time, Carissa Moore, she got her first tour win at the Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast.