Pauline Menczer: Groundbreaking Aussie surfing world champion reveals the terrifying reason coming out of the closet was a ‘life or death’ decision for her

Decorated Australian surfer Pauline Menczer has revealed why not declaring her sexuality when on the professional tour was a ‘life or death’ decision.

Speaking on Tuesday, the 1993 Bondi local and world surfing champion said she didn’t confirm she was gay when competing as she feared the possible repercussions due to disgraceful crimes that sent fear through her neighbourhood.

‘In the 1980s, there were quite a few gay hate crimes in Bondi which resulted in men dying,’ she said.

‘It really was a life or death decision for me at the time. 

‘One of the guys who was murdered was my neighbour … so when I was on tour, I told people my [French] girlfriend was actually my coach.

The 1993 world surfing champion grew up in Bondi – which was the scene of several gay hate crimes in the 1980s, when Menczer was still at school 

‘I also chose not to disclose my sexuality because homophobia was rife back then…. and I didn’t want to be discriminated against.

‘Thankfully, society these days has [somewhat] grown up.’ 

Menczer, who was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 2018, also told the ABC she was frustrated at the lack of sponsors who wanted to back a female world champion.

‘All the money and sponsorship deals back then went to the men,’ she said. ‘As women, we had to fight hard for recognition.’ 

Menczer, who was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 2018, said she was frustrated at the lack of sponsors chasing her once she became world champion

As a freckle-faced brunette, Menczer struggled to pick up sponsors because her appearance was a far stretch from the industry’s ideal blonde beach babe.

She was instead forced to stage raffles, bake cakes and sell various goods to earn enough funds to keep competing on the world stage.

Incredibly, Menczer also on occasion slept under grandstands at contests as she couldn’t afford accommodation at some venues.

In recent years, she has lived a much quieter life as a school bus driver in Brunswick Heads, just north of Byron Bay in NSW.

She has also recently released a ‘warts and all’ memoir detailing her life titled ‘Surf Like a Woman’.

‘It shows my funny, serious and sad sides,’ Menczer concluded.