Layne Beachley
Australian sportswoman

Layne Beachley was born Tania Maris Gardner on May 24, 1972 in Sydney, Australia.  Her mother was only seventeen years old and unmarried so she was soon adopted by Neil and Valerie Beachley, who lived in nearby Manly.  When Layne was only six years old, Valerie suffered a post-operative brain hemorrhage and passed away, leaving Layne and her brother to be raised by a family friend.  Layne was able to contact her birth mother later in life, and she continues to stay in touch with her.

Although surfing is a field dominated by men, Layne quickly became successful, turning professional at the age of sixteen.  When she was twenty years old, Beachley ranked sixth in the world among professional surfers.  She earned the title of Women’s ASP World Champion in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2006, and is considered by many to be the greatest female professional surfer of all time.

Information from wikipedia and "Who in Australia 2001." (Melbourne: Information Australia Group, 2000)