Kiwi surfing star Paige Hareb has had to settle for silver at the World Games in Japan.
The 28-year-old was unable to overcome a near-perfect run from Australian Sally Fitzgibbons in Saturday's final, denying Hareb a first world title.
Fitzgibbons scored 9.47 and 9.17 in the final to claim her first International Surfing Association crown in a decade.
Hareb was brilliant in the semi-final, posting 8.60 to book an automatic spot in the final.
Had it not been for Fitzgibbons blazing run, Hareb would have claimed top spot on the podium, after a score of 14.66 was enough to fend off South Africa's Bianca Buitendag and American Summer Macedo.
Hareb's fantastic result catapulted New Zealand to ninth on the final team standings, securing an easier draw for next year’s Olympic qualifying event.
Japan won the team crown, beating out Australia and the USA.
Newshub.
