Kelly Slater became the youngest men’s world champion when he won the 1992 title.
Slater was 20 years old when he captured his first Association of Surfing Professionals world championship. The American’s victory launched one of the most successful careers in competitive surfing, and he later became the sport’s oldest men’s world champion when he won another title in 2011.
His 1992 championship came during a period when professional surfing was becoming more television-friendly and increasingly standardized around shortboard competition. Slater’s aggressive turns, aerial ability and competitive tactics made him a defining figure of that era.
The youngest-champion record is distinct from the record for most world titles. Those are separate achievements, and age records can change if a younger athlete wins a future championship.