Record-breaking rookie Caroline Marks says she “wasn’t even thinking about” participating in the World Surf League when she qualified for the 2018 competition. And despite the hype around her name, the teenager isn’t feeling the pressure of expectation.
Marks—who turns 17 on Thursday—became the youngest athlete to ever qualify for the WSL at only 15 years of age. She’s now touted as a possible United States entry for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
But the young phenomenon remains relaxed over her rising star and told Mary Paige Nesfeder of Refinery 29 she’s the only one placing pressure on herself:
“I wasn’t even thinking about going on the tour. But it’s so hard to make the tour and it’s such a privilege. I thought, the worst case is I have a tough year but at least I’ll learn a lot and surf all these incredible waves and surf against my heroes. So yeah, let’s give it a shot.”
“No one even knows who I am yet, there’s no pressure on me. The only pressure put on me this year was from myself because I know what I can do and I know how good I am and I have high expectations for myself.”
Photo by SurfGirl Magazine
