Peru's Sofia Mulanovich takes second at Rip Curl Pro
Peruvian surfer Sofia Mulanovich has finished second at the Rip Curl Pro, Event No. 2 on the 2010 ASP Women's World Tour, held at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia.
Sofia finished behind event winner and three-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, who claimed her third Rip Curl Pro title in four attempts. The 22-year-old Australian posted the highest scores of the day in the quarter-finals and semi-finals before holding out Sofia Mulanovich 14.67 to 10.00 in a tough decider. Gilmore later admitted she had idolised Mulanovich as a teenager and used to gaze at posters of her in action for inspiration. "Sofia is incredible. We have had so many great battles over the years," Gilmore said. The fleet-footed Peruvian's Runner-Up finish is good enough to vault her to ASP Women's World No. 2 heading into the third event of the year. "I'm not at my 100% but I'm just stoked to make it to the Finals," Mulanovich said. "That's why I really want to go get treated before my Final. Hopefully it feels better before the next event."
According to the Rip Curl Pro website, 26-year-old Sofia Mulanovich, former ASP Women's World Champion (2004), surfed exceptionally well throughout the day despite suffering from a neck injury in yesterday's Round 3.
