- WSL / Ed Sloane

Three-time World Champion Mick Fanning will be making a special return to the Championship Tour as an Event Wildcard in the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona. This marks his first return to the CT since his emotional retirement on the stairs of Bells Beach in 2018.

Fanning also has a special connection to the Event Wildcard status, winning the first event of his career 20 years ago as a Wildcard at the 2001 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

"I don't think I'll feel bad. The amount of wildcards that ruined my dreams over the years, they didn't feel bad," Fanning told the WSL. "The biggest hurdle is actually getting ready to compete at a level that I think is right there to try and take people out."

Mick Fanning spent 17 years on the CT and over the course of his illustrious career, he gathered 22 event wins and three World Titles, making him one of the most successful surfers of all time, and an icon in lineups around the world.

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