Maya Reis Gabeira (born April 10, 1987) is a Brazilian big wave surfer. She surfed a 22.4 m (73 ft) high wave in Nazaré, Portugal in February 2020, recorded by Guinness World Records as the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman.[1][2] She also held the previous record for biggest wave ever surfed by a woman, of 20.8 m (68 ft) established in January 2018.[3][4]
Gabeira started surfing at age 13 in Rio de Janeiro and started competing at 15 years old. In 2004 she decided to become a professional at 17 while living in Australia and moved to Hawaii that same year to surf world class waves.
She quickly emerged as the world's top female big-wave surfer, winning global championships surfing challenging spots like Mavericks, Waimea, Todos Santos, and South Africa's shark-infested "Dungeons".
In 2008, she became the first woman to surf big waves in Alaska.[5] Gabeira also became the first woman to surf California's Ghost Trees and Tahiti's Teahupoo.[6]
In 2009, Gabeira won the ESPY award for Best Female Action Sports Athlete. Later that year, Gabeira surfed the biggest wave ever by a woman when she successfully rode a 14 m (46 ft) wave at Dungeons, a big-wave surf spot in South Africa.
In 2012, she was awarded the XXL Big Wave Awards for Girls Best Overall Performance for the 5th time. She also appeared in the ESPN The Body Issue that same year.[9]
On October 28, 2013, Gabeira lost consciousness and nearly drowned while surfing a massive wave at Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal; she was saved by her fellow Brazilian big-wave surfer Carlos Burle. She had to be revived on the beach and was taken to hospital.[10][11] In 2016 the documentary Return to Nazaré by Red Bull TV showed Gabeira's returned to Nazaré after the accident.[12]
In January 2018 Gabeira surfed a 20.8 m (68 ft) wave in Nazare, recorded by Guinness World Records as the biggest wave surfed by a woman.[3][4]
In February 11, 2020, Gabeira set a new Guinness World Record for the Largest wave surfed (unlimited) - female.[13][14] It was held in WSLNazaré Tow Surfin contest and the wave measured 22.4 m (73.5 ft).[1][2] The wave was also the biggest wave surfed by anyone that year.[15]