She can’t rent a car legally in the United States, however, Caroline Marks has won a world title and an Olympic gold medal – all before hitting 25 years old.
At just 23, the Floridian surfer has accomplished just about every accolade available in the sport. (For reference, Kelly Slater won his first world title at 20 years old, and last year, Caitlin Simmers became the youngest-ever world champ at 18.) And going into the 2025 season’s Final Five, Marks is the oldest competitor on the docket. It begs the question: What, in today’s day and age, makes a “veteran” surfer? For Marks, it’s a funny one.
“My inner-circle and I laugh about it,” she said. “Like, ‘you’re a vet at 23!’ If you look at when I qualified, and how long I’ve been on Tour, I guess I would be a vet. A lot of the girls I’m surfing with are my age, but it is getting younger and younger. It’s just so funny, because I feel like I still have so much to learn, and my best years are ahead of me. That’s why I laugh at it.”
To hear more about the age thing – among other topics including her recent return to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, the lingering feeling of an Olympic gold medal one year later, and her brand-new business – we hit up Caroline just before she took off for Fiji to compete in the WSL’s final, Finals Day iteration of the Championship Tour. Read on.
Pro Balance
Hey Caroline, how’d feel being back in Tahiti following last year’s Olympics?
It was my first time being back. When I was there, it was the one-year anniversary of when I won [the Olympics]. It brought back so many memories. Still celebrating a year later. It’s crazy, being back in the same place, where the biggest day of my life happened.
My first time to Teahupo’o, I spent my 18th birthday there. I got such good waves, and instantly fell in love with the place. I’ve won the CT there, and there’s been so many good moments. So, I definitely have a special connection with that place.
Last time we caught up, it was in the airport leaving Tahiti after you won gold. I don’t think it had settled in quite yet then. What’s it like now, reflecting on all that, a year out?
Sometimes I’m like, ‘whoa…did that really happen?’ And yeah, last time we talked, when something like that happens, it takes a few days to process. I’ll forever be super grateful and proud of that achievement. With surfing in the Olympics, it’s pretty cutthroat. Only one person wins. There’s no team trophy. You’re kind of on top for a while, for four years, like, that was me who did that. It still feels pretty surreal. Additionally, it’s brought me so many opportunities and experiences. I’m grateful for all that’s come with it.
Related: Caroline Marks on the (Literal) Weight of an Olympic Surfing Gold Medal
You’re like mainstream celebrity-status now!
[Laughs.] I don’t know about that. The Olympics is just so good for surfing, in general, because it brings all this attention to the sport. The whole thing worked out perfectly.
Congrats on clinching the Final Five, by the way. How’re you feeling going into Fiji?
I’m really stoked. Going into Tahiti, I was talking with Griffin [Colapinto] about it. We were basically in the same position – like one heat away from clinching. This year, we were chasing that. I haven’t experienced that in the last couple years, like, the pressure of making it. I was proud I was able to perform under the pressure.
I’m feeling great for Cloudbreak. It’s one of the best waves in the world. And especially as a goofy-footer. I think I’m the only goofy on the women’s side, which is pretty cool. I’m just stoked to surf good waves.
Beatriz Ryder/World Surf League via Getty Images
Thoughts on backside tube-riding versus frontside? Advantages vs. disadvantages?
Personally, I am more comfortable on my forehand. It’s hard to speak for other people. Of course, on certain waves, it’s easier to slow down on your backside. It’s all personal preference. For me, I feel better in those types of waves on my forehand. But it is a big goal of mine to get better getting barreled on my backside.
As for Cloudbreak, I’m happy to be on my forehand. It’s a long, high-performance wave. Sometimes you’re doing a lot of turns. Sometimes you’re just ripping, not even looking for the barrel. I think that could be a point of difference for me, being the only goofy-footer. I gotta hold it down for the goofs!
Next year, the WSL is changing it up again, getting rid of the Mid-Season Cut and the Final Five. What’re your thoughts on the update?
I’m excited. Nobody was a big fan of the Mid-Season Cut. Having only five events before the Cut just didn’t feel like enough. It’s going back to how it was when I first got on Tour. Then, Hawaii is just the best way to end the Tour. It’s iconic. It’ll be good to change it up. And starting in Australia, that’s always been awesome. The feedback seems positive.
For me, having won the Title in the Final Five format, it will be cool to try and win it in this way. It’s a new challenge, and that’s fun.
The other big thing recently, for you, was the SportsIllustrated Swimsuit issue. What was that like?
I was really stoked when I got the call to do it again. I did the first shoot when I was 18, and then doing it again. It was cool to see how I’ve matured. It’s also so cool to see yourself in print, since everything is so online these days. When I first did it, the crew made me feel so comfortable. And that’s why I wanted to go back, because the crew is just so great.
I love putting makeup on, and getting my hair done. We’re always in the water, and have our game faces on…so, it’s nice to switch it up. It’s really fun. Sports Illustrated is cool, because they celebrate so many different body types. And I was just honored to get the callback.
Related: Caroline Marks Returns to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Surfing’s changed a lot, in the past decade or so, moving on from the sexualization of female athletes. And yet, there’s still a celebration of feminine beauty. What’re your thoughts on that balancing act of badass females in the water, with modern beauty standards?
Some girls might not even care about dressing up, and being feminine. They just wanna surf all day and go hard. And that’s totally cool. You don’t need to choose a side. I think you can be a savage in the water, and send it on gnarly waves, but you can also have a side to you that wants to go out, look feminine, put on a fun outfit, or model in a small bikini. For me, it’s totally okay to do both. All personal preference, but for me, I like having that balance. That’s just what makes me happy. I look at Lindsey Vonn – she’s such a badass skier, but can also model and walk the red carpet. I think that’s so cool. Why not do both?
People are going to comment on what you do, no matter what it is, and you just need to block that out. You’re not going to make everyone happy. Some people think you need to be more rough around the edges, where as someone might think you need to be more feminine. But I just think you should do what makes you happy, and roll with it.
Pro Balance
At only 23 years old, you’ve kind of done it all in surfing. World champ, gold medalist – what’s next and what goals do you have going forward?
I wanna keep winning. I want to win more World Titles, and be in as many Olympics as I can. I’m also working on a movie with Red Bull, which will come out in the beginning of next year. It’s an all-female surf film, and I won’t give too many details, but it should be rad. It’s outside of competition, and it’s something different. Going on free-surf trips has been really fun for me.
Also, I started my own company at the beginning of this year. It’s called Pro Balance Bands. It’s a fitness company, using these resistance bands that I’ve been training with for years. We offer free workouts on YouTube, a detailed nutrition plan, all for $21.99 with no fees or anything. That’s been a really fun new venture to explore. It’s super natural, because this is workout equipment that I’m using every day anyway. My first company!
Check out Pro Balance here.