About Leilani McGonagle

Leilani McGonagle’s British-born father and American mother pushed their daughter into her first wave before she could walk. Her dad had grown up surfing in San Clemente, but had moved to Central America after high school, founded a small hotel at Pavones, met a traveling surfer, and decided to build his life there.

The village of Pavones was then a tiny fishing outpost in the Costa Rican jungle with one supermarket and dirt roads. It did however have one of Latin America’s best left-handers, and Leilani, following in her parents and eldest brother’s footsteps, surfed the famous Pavones point break every time it broke.

Her talent was obvious and she enjoyed a successful junior career, eventually being crowned the North American Junior champion. In 2015 she embarked on a QS campaign intending to crack the CT. In the next three years, she won three events and came relatively close to achieving her goal, finishing ranked No. 18 in 2018.

While the CT remains a realistic goal for a surfer with a smooth, powerful style and incredible focus, her career highlight came in El Salvador at the 2021 ISA World Surfing Games, when she secured Olympic selection. That achievement came with a huge emotional quotient as she dedicated her performance to her best friend Katy Diaz, the El Salvadorian surfer who tragically passed away whilst surfing early in 2021.

“Ever since I got the news that she passed away, I realized that this was for her,” McGonagle said. “It was bigger than me, bigger than for my country, for my pride, for my ego. All this was for her.”

Instagram: @leilanimcgonagle

Read more about Leilani McGonagle
  • Women's QS 2023/2024
    #5
  • Heat wins
    8
  • Avg. heat score
    12.19
  • Avg. wave score
    0.00
  • Women's QS 2023/2024
    #5
  • Heat wins
    8
  • Avg. heat score
    12.19
  • Avg. wave score
    0.00

Event results

Videos

News

Career stats

YearRankPointsEventsHeatsMax heat scoreBest result
2023/202456,70661716.503rd 
2022/202347,6694139.633rd 
2021/202265,10010328.602nd 
202182,3851413.355th 
2020353,2604109.675th(x2)
2019307,400153712.751st 
2018187,98515409.771st 
2017374,750132312.971st 
2016593,15561710.802nd 
2015801,830486.945th 
2014170205127.9661st 

Leilani McGonagle

Costa Rica

Leilani McGonagle

Costa Rica
  • Stance
    Goofy
  • First season
    2013 Women's JR
  • Age
    24 Nov 14, 1999
  • Hometown
    Pavones, Costa Rica
World Surf League
Download it for free on the App store. Download it for free on Google Play.