Charlie Verco has gone from shark attack hero to world champion, winning the Moloka’i to O’ahu World Championships for a fourth straight year and smashing the race record.
The Australian paddleboarder was thrust into the spotlight last month when he paddled towards a great white shark to rescue Leah Stewart after she was attacked at Coogee Beach in Sydney.
Here’s what to know.
New record
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The 25-year-old crossed the 52km Ka’iwi Channel, which separates the Hawaiian islands of Moloka’i and O’ahu, in four hours and 18 minutes.
Verco’s time was three minutes faster than the previous record, set by fellow Australian Matt Bevilacqua in 2019.
The crossing takes competitors through one of the world’s most challenging open-water routes on the Moloka’i to O’ahu World Championships course, known for its deep waters, strong currents and marine life.
