Yolanda Hopkins has made history as the first Portuguese woman to qualify for surfing’s elite World Tour, securing her spot during the Saquarema Pro in Brazil.
The 27-year-old’s qualification Thursday marks a significant milestone for Portuguese surfing. She secured her place by advancing to the semifinals of the Challenger Series event.
Hopkins defeated Australia’s Ellie Harrison in the quarterfinals to clinch the spot. Her qualification came ahead of schedule, with three events remaining in the seven-stage Challenger Series.
She is currently the second-ranked surfer in the Challenger Series. This circuit determines the top seven qualifiers for the 2026 World Tour.
While male Portuguese surfers Tiago Pires and Frederico Morais have previously reached the men’s World Tour, Hopkins’ achievement breaks new ground for women in the sport in Portugal.
Portugal could see more surfers qualify for next year’s World Tour. Francisca Veselko is currently ranked fourth, and Teresa Bonvalot is close to the top seven cut-off score.