Olympic gold medalist.

World Surf League champion.

Now set to defend that title on Friday.

As Caroline Marks reflects on her achievements, she also acknowledges the tough times in her career.

At just 19 years old, Marks left the WSL Tour unexpectedly during the early part of the 2022 season, citing struggles with her mental and physical health.

“Surfing has always been my life,’’ shared Marks, now 22. “It was terrifying when everything was suddenly taken away from me for a while.”

Marks was away from competition for about six months. Now, as she approaches the WSL finals in San Clemente, California, holding the No. 2 seed, she expressed, “That time in my life will always be significant, and I’m not embarrassed by it. Everyone faces challenges, and many athletes I admire have gone through similar things, so I don’t feel ashamed.”

“I believe it was meant to happen, and I’m thankful it did because it shaped me into who I am now, both as a person and an athlete, making me much stronger.”

Caroline Marks Returns to Competition

“Some athletes I admire reached out to check on me, and that was incredibly kind of them,” she remarked.

One of those athletes is Simone Biles, whom Marks looks up to—not solely for her impressive achievements.

During the 2021 Tokyo Games, Biles stepped back from several competitions to focus on her mental and physical well-being. A few years later, she captured three gold medals and one silver at the Paris Olympics.

Luke Egan, Marks’ coach, adjusted his expectations when she reached out for guidance as she planned her comeback.

In her first event post-break, Marks secured a third-place finish and followed it up with three straight fifth-place finishes, setting the stage for a stellar 2023 season.

“I couldn’t believe how quickly she bounced back,” Egan told YSL News Sports. “I had expected we’d be behind schedule.”

Marks stated, “To go from the lowest phase of my life to the highest is a surreal experience. I didn’t want to place too much pressure on myself; my goal was to concentrate on honing my skills while ensuring my mental and physical health were intact. Everything progressed so quickly.”

At the WSL finals, “the final five” competitors include No. 1 seed Caitlin Simmers, an 18-year-old American sensation; No. 3 seed Brisa Hennessy from Costa Rica; No. 4 seed Molly Picklum from Australia; and No. 5 seed Tatiana Weston-Webb from Brazil, who earned a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.

The winner will take home $200,000, with $100,000 for second place, $75,000 for third, $60,000 for fourth, and $40,000 for fifth.

The WSL finals will be structured as a single-elimination series of head-to-head heats. The No. 4 seed faces off against the No. 5 seed. The winner moves on to compete against the No. 3 seed, and then the winner of that heat will take on the No. 2 seed. The final battle will be between the last two contenders, decided over three heats.

Last year, Marks entered the finals as the No. 3 seed and emerged victorious. This time, she feels confident being the No. 2 seed.

“Being number one is undeniably advantageous,” she noted. “You start fresh, but it can also be quite nerve-wracking watching someone gain momentum throughout the day.  We’ll see how it goes.”

Follow Josh Peter on social media @joshlpeter11