One Step Closer To The Olympics: Steph Gilmore, Kelly Slater, Filipe Toledo, Gabby Medina, Julian Wilson and Jordy Smith

Olympic fever is rising.

It’s just been announced that Stephanie Gilmore will be fronting the Australian squad at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games.

After it became known earlier this week that 11-time world champ Kelly Slater and current ratings leaders Kolohe Andino and Carissa Moore would be anchoring the U.S. team, the Aussies countered with a stacked lineup of their own. Besides Gilmore, they’ve recruited Julian Wilson, Owen Wright, Ryan Callinan, Nikki Van Dijk, and Sally Fitzgibbons.

Brazil, France and South Africa have also shared their team rosters.

In what appears to be the most potent lineup for the beachbreak conditions they’ll encounter in Japan next month, team Brazil is in full effect with Filipe Toledo, Gabriel Medina, and Italo Ferreira. The Brazilian women will be represented by Tatiana Weston-Webb, Silvana Lima and Tainá Hinckel.

The French will feature a well-seasoned team. Led by Jeremy Flores and Michel Bourez, it will be bolstered by Joan Duru and Johanne Defay, as well as Vahine Fierro and Cannelle Bulard.

Finally, South Africa’s secured commitments from Jordy Smith, Mikey February, and Bianca Buitendag.

The 2019 ISA World Surfing Games presented by Vans is very quickly looking like a can’t-miss, all-star gathering.

It will take place September 7-15 in Miyazaki, Japan. The rest of the team rosters will be released on August 27.