Fresh off her big win at the Rottnest Search, the Kiama High School alumna carried that form into the Surf City competition with the Australian Irukandjis.

Despite mixed early form and seven sudden death repechage rounds, Fitzgibbons found herself in the women's final alongside Portuguese pair Yolanda Sequeira and Teresa Bonvalot, as well as Peru's Daniella Rosas.

In the decider, the current world number two dominated and posted a two-wave score of 14.10, to finish ahead of Sequeira (9.60), Bonvalot (9.04) and Rosas (5.26).

This victory marks the third time (including 2008 and 2018) Fitzgibbons has won gold at the ISA World Surf Games - acting as perfect preparation for her Olympic Games debut in Tokyo next month.

"This event has been an unreal platform to test our mental strength," Fitzgibbons said.

"It's surreal to be wearing the gold medal at the end of the week.

"This is a great runway heading into Tokyo 2020.

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"Just competing and seeing all the Olympians get their spots is great.

"Being on the world tour we don't get to surf against a lot of the other Olympians.

"It's good practice to go against them and spend time bonding with the rest of the Aussie team.

"Surfing has finally arrived as a global sport. It's got the recognition now.

"We are going to the Olympics. It's cool to have that as a milestone in my career.

"I want to go as long as I can in the sport because I love it."

In the men's event, Frenchman Joan Duru scored a total of 14.94 points to overcome Japanese surfer Kanoa Igarashi's 13.74 points while French veteran Jeremy Flores won bronze - with Culburra Beach's Owen Wright finishing equal-11th.

France won the team's gold medal ahead of Japan and Portugal, with Australia finishing fifth.

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