Five facts about ...

... Gisela Pulido. In Mantanzas, Chile, the 14-year-old Spaniard became Kitesurf World Champion for the fifth time. But there are five more disciplines that Gigi is the best in.

1. Best student with a contingent pro athlete career

In contrast to all her rivals Gigi has a second full-time job: she goes to school from 9 am to 2 pm every day and has to organize her training plan around her homework. She mainly takes part in contests during school holidays; the things she misses out on she prefers to take care of in the plane. ‘I always get bored on long-haul flights anyway.’

2. Best advertisement for kitesurfing

That a girl had won three World Championship titles before even becoming a teenager garnered huge attention in the sporting world. Gigi wants to use this opportunity to generate more respect for kitesurfing. ‘My dream is for it to become an Olympic sport – and that I win an Olympic medal.’

3. Best tranquilizer for surf show-offs

When talk turns to Gigi in the kitesurf scene’s internet forums or if a new Gigi video is posted it usually elicits meek restraint from male kiters. A typical comment: ‘How old is she again? After watching this video, I feel like crawling under a rock ...’

4. Best tourism advocate for Tarifa

‘The best kitesurfing spot in the world is Tarifa,’ Gigi announces wherever she’s asked. ‘Especially when the “poniente” is blowing.’ Yet the thought that Gigi will go directly into advertising tourism for her home town once she’s finished her kiting career has a dead end. She’s dreaming of becoming a vet or a sports reporter.

5. Best 'Simpsons' expert on the PKRA World Tour

When Gigi isn’t touring she never misses an episode of ‘The Simpsons’. The TV series is a daily fixture between school and afternoon training.