Teenager surfer Erin Brooks is shown June 7, 2023, at the ISA World Surfing Games in this handout image, where she won silver in the women’s shortboard event. The Texas-born 16-year-old, whose father Jeff has dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship, has been granted Canadian citizenship in the hope of representing Canada at the Paris Olympics. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Surf Canada-Dom Domic
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Teenage surfing prodigy Erin Brooks has won her fight for Canadian citizenship, opening the door for her to compete for Canada at the Paris Olympics.
The 16-year-old Brooks was born in Texas and grew up in Hawaii but has Canadian ties through her American-born father Jeff, who is a dual American-Canadian citizen, and her grandfather who was born and raised in Montreal.
Brooks’ citizenship bid was initially turned down. But Immigration Minister Marc Miller has had a change of heart, it appears.
Surf Canada confirmed the government’s change of heart.
The last opportunity to qualify for the Olympics is at the ISA World Championships in Puerto Rico in February.
Brooks is considered by many to challenge for a medal at the Olympics due to the heavy left-hand barrel conditions at Teahupo’o in Tahiti, where the Olympic surfing event is being held.
She won a silver medal at the ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador in June and gold at the ISA World Junior Championships in June 2022.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 13, 2024
