Surfing Champ Molly Picklum's List That Quiets Anxiety

Before Molly Picklum conquered the world surfing championship at 22, she had to conquer the noise in her own head.

The Australian surfer now uses what she calls her "admit it list" before every competition. She writes down everything she's feeling, from not catching good practice waves to simply being tired.

"It's actually allowing and owning how you feel," Picklum told ABC Sport. "Because I think the moment you don't look at what you're feeling, or maybe being honest with yourself, then you're probably running from it."

Four years ago, those feelings nearly ended her career. Picklum's anxiety became so overwhelming she couldn't even complete a wave, beating herself up in the high-pressure environment of professional surfing.

Then she started working with mind coach Ben Crowe, who has also guided tennis champion Ash Barty. The shift wasn't complicated: just write it down and admit it.

Why This Inspires

Picklum's honesty about her mental health struggle shows how accepting our feelings, rather than fighting them, can unlock our potential. She transformed what felt like weakness into her competitive edge by simply acknowledging it existed.

The strategy worked spectacularly. Last September in Fiji, Picklum claimed her first world surfing title after mounting a comeback 2-1 victory against 2023 champion Caroline Marks, despite losing the first heat.

"I struggled to accept things because I was so hungry and determined," Picklum explained. "But now I just admit it."

This week, the now 23-year-old begins defending her world title at Bells Beach in Victoria, where she finished runner-up in 2023. If she wrote her list today, she'd admit to feeling tired from a big week, but she'd also acknowledge her boards feel really good.

The unpredictability of surfing once made Picklum hesitate, a way to sidestep her fears and anxieties. Now she stares them straight in the eyes, writes them down, and paddles out anyway.