The name Kelly Slater and acronym G.O.A.T are often seen together, and there’s little doubt about the American’s status as the greatest surfer of all time.

He holds nearly every significant record in the sport, with 11 world titles, 55 event victories, and the record for being both the youngest and oldest men’s world champion. Slater claimed his first world title as a 20-year-old in 1992, and won his last at 39 in 2011.

Since turning pro in 1990, his storied career has included world dominance in the mid 90’s, where he won five consecutive titles from 1993-1998, before retiring in 1999. He returned to competition in 2002 and went on to claim further global titles in 2005, 2008, 2010, and his last in 2011.

A severe foot injury kept him out of competition from 2017 - 2018 but by 2019 he was back in action, winning WSL Championship Tour events, and fighting for a coveted place in surfing’s debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. At 47 years old, he narrowly missed out on a place on Team USA’s surfing team.