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Kelia Gallina has been entered into the Guinness World Records as the youngest surfer to compete in a World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour event, a record she set in 2025 when she was just 12 years old.
“Bonjour! I am Kelia and I am the youngest person to have participated in the World Surf League Championship Tour,” she said. “My hometown, Teahupo’o in Tahiti, French Polynesia, is one of the most dangerous surf spots in the world – but that’s where I learned the sport.”
Gallina began surfing at the age of three, coached by her father, and rode her first small waves in Teahupo’o at four. She entered the 2025 Tahiti Pro Trials in July, winning the qualifying event at age 12 and earning a wildcard to the international competition. She celebrated her 13th birthday while competing alongside professional surfers and finished ninth overall.
In 2026 she qualified again for the Tahiti Pro Trials, advanced to the quarterfinals, and defeated both Australian world champion Tyler Wright and American Olympic champion Caroline Marks.
She has stated that her goals for the next decade include winning the Tahiti Pro, securing a spot on the Championship Tour, and ultimately competing for the world title.
Gallina’s record was officially added to the Guinness World Records in the “Young Achievements” category. The achievement is a source of pride for Teahupo’o and French Polynesia.
Source: Tahiti-Infos, 18 September 2026.
Article and image source: tahiti-infos.com
