Molly Picklum had to do it the hard way in Fiji but has joined the heroes who made the little girl in her want to surf and become a world champion.

At just 22, Picklum has joined the pantheon of Australian world title holders including Steph Gilmore and Layne Beachley, defying a long wait and nerves, and three do-or-die heats to secure her breakthrough at Cloudbreak in Fiji in a brilliant head-to-head clash with American Caroline Marks.

After more than a week of waiting to compete, then hours watching the four other contenders battle it out to meet her in the winner-take-all final, Picklum lost the first heat, before dominating the next two to secure an emotional world title.

““I cannot believe it. I came here with a dream. I didn’t make it easy on myself. I was pretty excited and made it hard,” Picklum, who hails from the NSW Central Coast, said.

“But I got locked in and did what I have done all year. I cannot believe I am a world champion. I’m so stoked.

“She like got me good but I was still kind of there for the first heat, then I dunno, I found my form in that second heat and to combo. It just solidified for me there were no ifs or buts about my year this year and I’m so, so grateful to be taking the trophy home.

“My God, I’m tripping, it’s like a dream.”

After the long wait just to get in the water, watching women’s and men’s battles, Picklum, took the first wave available in the 35 minute opening heat, and was dumped.

Knowing she could take the title by winning the heat, world No.1 continued to attack.

But Marks, who started the final day ranked fourth, surfed in the first heat and took down three opponents, including defending world champ, Caitlin Simmers to get to the last duel, used her momentum and capitalised on Picklum’s clear tension to take it, forcing the Australian to win the next two.

Stirred into action, Picklum surged back into the contest at the start of the second heat, picking up two brilliant wave scores of 7 and 6 points, then a superb barrel ride which

netted an 8.83 score, earned a double-first pump from Picklum who controlled proceedings and locked the final at 1-1.

Back in the water a third time, Picklum again exploded out of the blocks with a seven-point ride, then a 6.5, setting a tiring Marks a task.

Picklum was near faultless with the title on the line, delivering some stunning rides, including another barrell, which earned another 8.83, firing herself up after completing each wave.

As the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes, Marks needed a two-wave combination of 15.83 to win, a score she couldn’t reel in, securing Picklum the victory she craved.

Picklum had been red-hot in the latter stages of the season winning two of the final three events, including in Tahiti to clinch the No.1 seed in the final, setting up her tilt at the title.

She made five appearances in event finals in 2020, the most on tour and capped her stunning season with her maiden world title.

Jack Robinson, the only Australian male to make the final five, was unable to produce any heroics in Fiji.

First into the water in a sudden death showdown after finishing fourth on the rankings, he was outgunned by Brazilian Italo Ferreira, the 2019 world champion.

Ferreira finished the heat with a score of 14.33 while Robinson had some unwanted falls and could only manage two scoring waves, for a total of just 5.83.

It was a flat end to an otherwise big year for Robinson who charged into the finals with a win in the final event of the year in Tahiti, one of his two victories for 2025 having also recorded a memorable triumph at Bells Beach.

Another Brazilian, Yago Dora, won the men’s title defeating American Griffin Colapinto in the opening heat of their final clash.