Australia's newest surfing world champion has returned home to a hero's welcome. 22-year-old Molly Picklum jumped back into the waves near her Central Coast surf club surrounded by family, friends and fans.

North Shelly Beach Dog Beach

Molly Picklum, a 22-year-old Australian surfer, has been celebrated as one of the world's top surfing talents after her recent world championship win. She brought her trophy back to North Shelly Beach, the place where her surfing journey began, and was welcomed by a large crowd of supporters from the local community.

Picklum expressed gratitude for the support she received, acknowledging the role her community played in her success. She joined local surfers in the water, inspiring the next generation. Picklum plans to defend her title when the next tour begins and is currently focused on enjoying her victory and spending time surfing at home.

Molly Picklum celebrates world surfing championship win at home beach

still riding the high of a world championship win. 22-year-old Molly Picklem, dubbed unstoppable and fearless, is now one of the world's greatest surfing talents. With the trophy firmly in her grasp, the surfer brought it straight to the place where it all began, North Shelley Beach. Always talking about bringing it home, bringing it home and honestly I hadn't cried until the moment I actually saw it run. Despite claiming the title on Tuesday in Fiji, seeing the Central Coast community rally around her was when the reality of her win truly hit home. When it all actually came real, it's just like the outburst of all those emotions and things that you've kind of just been compartmentalising and it all just comes in that moment and that's why my voice is a little husky, I've just been screaming from the moment I got that trophy. A couple of hundred surfers from grommets to lifers made their way down to her old stomping grounds, stogged to celebrate their champion. I definitely didn't get there on my own as you can probably see there's a lot of people around me. Despite the fanfare, the water was calling her name and it wasn't long until she was shredding the waves with the next generation. Just to be in the waves with her in real life, it's just crazy. You see her on TV and it's like oh she's the best and then you see her in person it's really good. She was one of us grommets before, like it's so good that she's won. Molly will kick off the defence of her world championship title on home soil in April when the 2026 tour kicks off. I was switched off to my house this year and I want to like fix some things there and then I just want to go surf. For now, Molly's got her eyes on three things, signing autographs, surfing and switching off. Phoebe Murray, 10 News.

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Breakdown