surf's up
I’m an 11-time world champion but my body is held together by part of a CORPSE – I’m in pain but still competing at 52
The surfing legend's life is about to dramatically change
KELLY SLATER has dropped a huge hint over his retirement plans.
The surfing legend is an 11-time world champion but has admitted he could call time on his career soon.
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Last year the 52-year-old said he would hang up his board after the 2024 Olympics as he aimed to compete for Team USA in Tahiti.
The two available spots in the men's team have since been claimed by Griffin Colapinto and John John Florence.
However, Slater remains active in the World Surf League despite undergoing major hip surgery in September.
And he remains top of the class after winning his heat in the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Australia, where he has won four titles - the first of which came 30 years ago.
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Though it seems it could be the last time he competes at the iconic event after he dropped a hint his career could soon come to an end.
Following his heat win, Slater said: "I haven’t made an announcement, but I’m going to wrap this thing [his career] up pretty soon.
"So I’m just trying to enjoy each one that I’m at now.
"It’s probably my last Bells – not 100 per cent. I mean, if I win this one or Margarets, I earn my way back on tour next year.
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"But other than that, I’m fine if it’s my last one, 30 years since I won my first, it would be a nice bookend.
"Bells isn’t one of my favourite waves, but coming down here, it’s one of my favourite events – just the experience.
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"It will be a little bittersweet sadness when I’m not coming back for the event."
Slater was absent for the recent world tour round in Portugal due to injury.
He is also expecting a second child with partner Kalani Miller after making the announcement a few days ago.
His first child, 28-year-old Taylor, came from a previous relationship.
Slater added: "The important things in life change real quickly when you're having a kid, but I still got a little more stressed in that heat than I wanted."
The Florida-born American's latest hip surgery saw him go undergo a procedure for more than four hours and sensationally involved a part of a body from a corpse.
He admitted his surprise when learning what the surgery would entail, adding: "Who gave the ultimate sacrifice for me?
"I can surf, so I'm happy, but I'm not surfing [without] pain. Adrenalin helps."
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The last of his 56 tour wins came in early 2022.
Slater has previously been seen hitting the waves with Formula One legend Lewis Hamilton and amazingly saved actor Tom Felton after a terrifying collapse on a golf course.
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