In the 52 km race in Hawaii on 26/7, Verco finished in 4 hours, 18 minutes, and 3 seconds. The 25-year-old Australian star claimed his fourth consecutive paddleboard world championship title, simultaneously breaking the previous record of 4 hours and 21 minutes, set by fellow athlete Matt Bevilacqua in 2019.

Verco celebrated his victory at the Moloka'i 2 O'ahu Paddleboard World Championships on 26/7, in Hawaii, US. Photo: Moloka'i 2 O'ahu Paddleboard World Championships

Verco successfully defended his title just one month after rescuing a woman from a shark attack. The incident occurred while he was training for the competition at Coogee Beach, Australia.

The events began when Verco heard someone screaming for help about a shark. As a trained lifeguard familiar with shark behavior, he immediately paddled towards the dangerous area, where several people were trying to get away from a large grey shadow.

Despite the alarm being activated, the situation became critical. Verco saw a large shark, about 3,5 meters long, surfacing with its dorsal fin, dragging Leah Stewart, a 34-year-old teacher and mother.

"I had only ever seen a shark that big once before, a tiger shark in Hawaii. There was a lot of blood in the water. It was horrific," Verco recounted.

With the alarm and Verco's arrival, the shark released Stewart. The paddleboarder approached, allowing the victim to hold onto his board. However, the victim soon lost consciousness due to blood loss.

To get to shore, Verco used one hand to keep Stewart's head above water while paddling with the other. Afterwards, a team of lifeguards applied a tourniquet and performed CPR, helping the victim regain consciousness.

Stewart was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. In the following days, she underwent 5 surgeries and had an arm amputated but survived.

Verco began his athletic career by joining the Under 6 team at North Bondi Nipper Club, Australia. Besides paddleboarding, the 25-year-old athlete also competes in Ironman events and learns downwind windsurfing. In addition to sports, he is also pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree, working part-time as a coach, hospitality staff, and volunteer lifeguard.

Thanh Quy (according to Guardian, ABC)