Layne Beachley

Layne Collette Beachley was born prematurely on the 24th of May 1972 at Crown Street Women's Hospital Sydney and spent weeks in a humidicrib. At six weeks old, she was adopted by Valerie and Neil Beachley. Neil Beachley, a Manly Beach lifesaver, introduces Layne to surfing when she was just four years old, after she showed natural ability and balance on a skateboard. Tragically Valerie died of a brain hemorrhage in 1979. Layne entered her first surf contest at 14 years of age and turned professional right after finishing high school. She got the attention of 1990 World Surf Champion Pam Burridge, who becomes her mentor. After four tough years, Layne won her first event, and reached number 6 in the world ranking. Later that year, she developed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and dropped out of the competition. The disease struck her again in 1996, but she fought back, and ended the season ranked number 3. In 1998, at age 26, she won the first of six consecutive World Championships. She was also contacted by her birth mother.