Stanley Norman: I Want To Be An Olympian

Stanley Norman is aiming for the 2028 LA Olympics. “Surfing’s future is the Olympics,” he says... Ever since Tokyo 2020 welcomed surfing onto its roster, Stanley has set his sights on LA 2028 and beyond, dreaming of qualifying and competing against the best in the world.

His journey began along the rugged Cornish coastline. By age 11, Stanley spent seven months in Australia sharpening his skills. Back home, contest wins piled up so quickly that his parents made a bold choice. When he was in his first year of secondary school, struggling to stay engaged in the classroom, they sat him down and agreed he’d pursue surfing full time. “I was stoked to miss school,” he admits, “but traveling away so young came with its own challenges: I missed my friends and family.”

Then COVID struck just as Stanley was hitting his prime. He couldn’t compete for a long time, but luckily he had the ocean on his doorstep and was able to keep surfing regularly. The pandemic effectively threw him into the deep end, propelling him straight into men’s competitions without the usual junior lead‑in.

Stanley earned the opportunity to compete for Great Britain at the ISA Olympic Qualifier, going up against the world’s best, including Ethan Ewing. Although he didn’t qualify for Paris 2024, he and the GB team already have their eyes set on the Olympic qualifying series for 2028.

Stanley’s days now follow a simple routine strength work, mobility sessions, mental prep, then hours in the lineup, sometimes hunting secret breaks in Cornwall, other times training camps abroad. He knows judges reward power turns, aerials, and rail speed, and he’s chasing the complete package.

Check out our Mini documentary with Stan from last year on our YouTube