Western Australia’s Jack Robinson has been selected in a star-studded Australian Irukandjis team to contest the 2026 ISA World Surfing Games at Punta Rocas, Peru, as Australia looks to defend its world team title and take another step towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist and nine-time WSL Championship Tour event winner joins Ethan Ewing and George Pittar in the men’s line-up, alongside an impressive women’s team featuring eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore, two-time World Champion Tyler Wright and rising star Leihani Zoric. With valuable Olympic qualification places on offer, Robinson will be looking to build on his success in Tahiti and help Australia secure back-to-back ISA World Surfing Games Team Gold medals.
Read the full Surfing Australia media release below.
CASUARINA, NSW (OCT 22, 2026): Surfing Australia is proud to announce the 2026 Australian Surfing Team, The Irukandjis, set to represent Australia at the ISA World Surfing Games at Punta Rocas, Peru.
Headlined by Olympic medallists, World Champions and a 13-year-old ISA Gold medallist prodigy, the six-person line-up will look to defend Australia’s ISA World Surfing Games Team Gold after claiming the Team ISA World Championship in 2025.
The Team Gold Medal at the 2025 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games marked Australia’s first Open Team Gold since 2011, ending a 14-year wait to reclaim the top step of the podium.
With Olympic qualification places available through the ISA World Surfing Games in 2026, 2027 and 2028, the event marks an important opportunity for Australia’s surfers to represent their country on the international stage as the road to Los Angeles continues.
2026 Irukandjis Australian Surfing Team
Stephanie Gilmore (QLD): Eight-time WSL World Champion and Tokyo 2020 Olympian, Gilmore the most decorated female surfer of all time, referred to as the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT).
Tyler Wright (NSW): Two-time WSL World Champion and Paris 2024 Olympian, Wright brings extensive Championship Tour and Olympic experience to the team.
“I’m so excited to represent Team Australia as we enter a new Olympic cycle. The level continues to rise, and being surrounded by athletes who all want to get better is something I thoroughly enjoy as a competitor. It continues to push me to see how far I can go in my career!”
— Tyler Wright.
Leihani Kaloha Zoric (NSW): The 13-year-old U18 Girls ISA World Junior Surfing Champion is the youngest surfer to compete in the ISA Open World Championships and Australia’s first ever Indigenous World Surfing Champion.
“I’m so excited to go back to another ISA event, an open one this time, and represent Australia with some of the best surfers in the world. It’s going to be such a great experience. I really enjoyed the team environment last time, and I’m just so stoked to be going back and getting that again. I’ve never been to Peru, so I can’t wait.”
— Leihani Zoric
Ethan Ewing (QLD): The Paris 2024 Olympian returns to represent Australia on the international stage, he was the 2016 WSL World Junior Champion, and a 3X WSL Championship Tour Event Winner.
Jack Robinson (WA): The Paris 2024 Olympic Silver Medallist, and 9X WSL Championship Tour Event Winner.
“Winning silver in Tahiti at the Paris 2024 Olympics was one of the proudest moments of my career, and it’s made me even hungrier to represent Australia again. It’s always an honour to represent my country, and I’m really excited to be part of this ISA team. With LA28 on the horizon, this is another big opportunity to compete for my country and begin the journey towards Olympic qualification.”
— Jack Robinson
George Pittar (NSW): Ranked within the Top 10 on the WSL Championship Tour, Pittar enters the event following his Maiden CT victory at the 2026 Margaret River Pro.
About the ISA World Surfing Games 2026
The 2026 ISA World Surfing Games will be staged at Punta Rocas, Peru. The event draws the best surfers from over 50 nations, competing for individual titles and national team glory.
Since 2022, the ISA World Surfing Championships have been integrated into Olympic qualification, making them a direct pathway for surfers aiming to compete at the Games.
“We’re incredibly excited by the team selected to represent Australia at the ISA World Surfing Games. This is a group that combines world-class experience with an exciting new generation of talent.”
“On the men’s side, having Ethan Ewing, Jack Robinson and George Pittar, all ranked inside the world’s top 15 demonstrates the depth and quality of Australian surfing right now. They bring proven performance on the world stage and will be a formidable force in any conditions.”
“Our women’s team is equally impressive, with world champions Stephanie Gilmore and Tyler Wright joined by one of the most exciting young surfers in the sport, Leihani Zoric. Leihani’s recent ISA World Junior title highlights the bright future of Australian surfing and provides a great balance alongside some of the most accomplished athletes our sport has ever seen.”
“This team represents an outstanding blend of experience, proven success and emerging talent. The ISA World Surfing Games are always fiercely contested, but we believe this group has the capability to challenge for gold and continue Australia’s proud history on the international stage.”
“As we build towards LA28, opportunities like this are invaluable in bringing our best surfers together in a team environment and strengthening our pursuit of future Olympic success.”
— Dion Atkinson
Head of Podium, Surfing Australia
The Road to LA2028 Olympics
The 2026 ISA World Surfing Games also marks an important step on the road to the LA28 Olympic Games, with national team results forming part of the official qualification pathway.
Surfing will feature 48 athletes at LA28, with 24 men and 24 women. Nations are generally limited to two surfers per gender, although an additional place can be earned through the team qualification pathway at the 2026 and 2027 ISA World Surfing Games.
At each event, the highest-ranked men’s and women’s teams can secure one Olympic qualification slot per gender for their nation. Unlike individual qualification places, which are earned by name, these team slots are awarded to the National Olympic Committee.
The qualification pathway also includes the 2028 World Surf League Championship Tour, the 2028 ISA World Surfing Games and designated continental competitions, with the final places determined through the published qualification hierarchy.
About the Irukandjis
The Irukandjis name was generously gifted to Surfing Australia by the Yirrganydji people of North Queensland. The team’s tagline — ‘Deadly in the Water’ — comes from the potent Irukandji jellyfish, reflecting both the cultural heritage and fierce competitive spirit of Australian surfers.
All elite Australian surfers, across Olympic, longboard, big wave, adaptive, SUP, junior, and masters disciplines, compete internationally under the Irukandjis banner and colours.
Follow the Irukandjis via:
www.surfingaustralia.com/irukandjis
@theirukandjis on Instagram
The 2026 Irukandjis ISA World Surfing Games team is proudly partnered with the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
Pictured: Jack Robinson charges through a Teahupo’o barrel on his way to Olympic silver at Paris 2024. Photo: Pablo Jimenez.
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