19 Facts About Mick Fanning

Mick Fanning was born on 13 June 1981 in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia, to Irish parents.

Mick Fanning learned to surf from the age of three at Brown Bay near Mount Gambier, but did not focus on surfing until his family moved to Tweed Heads, New South Wales, when he was twelve.

Mick Fanning received a wild card entry at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in 2001, winning one of Australia's leading contests.

Mick Fanning finished 2002 as Rookie of the Year, winning the Billabong Pro at Jeffrey's Bay and earning himself a place on the 2002 Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour as World Qualifying Series Champion.

Mick Fanning began his 2007 World Title campaign with a victory at the Quiksilver Pro, the first event on the 2007 ASP World Tour, putting himself on top of the ratings.

Mick Fanning won the Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil on 6 November 2007 placing above Taj Burrow and Kelly Slater thereby clinching the 2007 ASP world title.

Mick Fanning slipped to eighth position on the end of year ratings.

In 2009, Mick Fanning reclaimed the ASP World Champion crown at the Pipeline reef break on Oahu's North Shore.

On 3 December 2015, Mick Fanning claimed his first World Qualification Series victory in Hawaiian surf by winning the 2015 Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach, Oahu.

On 19 July 2015, Mick Fanning was attacked by a shark two minutes into the J-Bay Open 2015 finals at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa.

Mick Fanning was in the water with Julian Wilson during the final when what was suspected to be a great white shark swam next to him and became entangled in his surfboard leash.

Mick Fanning punched the shark and tried to wedge his board between the shark and his body.

Wilson paddled towards Mick Fanning to assist him and was praised for his action and hailed as a hero.

Mick Fanning later competed in the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, which took place in August 2015 in Tahiti.

Mick Fanning would go on to take a victory at the Hurley Pro at Trestles Beach and finish the year second in the ratings.

Mick Fanning was married for eight years to entrepreneur Karissa Dalton.

In 2019, Mick Fanning invested in Australian dog food company Scratch.

Mick Fanning is a supporter of the National Rugby League club Penrith Panthers.

In 2017 Mick Fanning was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to surfing as a professional competitor at the national and international level, and as a supporter of a range of charitable foundations.