Surfing Against the Odds: Llywelyn’s Journey from Tragedy to World Champion

Join us on a journey of resilience and triumph as we explore the inspiring story of Llywelyn Sponge Williams, a world-renowned adaptive surfer.

At 16, Llywelyn faced a life-altering accident that resulted in the loss of his leg. Despite this challenge, his determination and passion for surfing fueled his remarkable comeback.

From being the first Welsh adaptive surfing world champion to winning multiple ISA World Para Surfing titles, Spunge's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and community support.

Discover how he overcame adversity, returned to the waves, and built a successful surfing career.

Alongside his competitive achievements, Llywelyn dedicates himself to promoting adaptive surfing and supporting others with disabilities.

His story is a reminder that with the right mindset and support, anything is possible.

Competitive Surfing Career:

Llywelyn began competing in para-surfing events worldwide in 2016, placing 5th in the ISA World Championships—his first-ever competition. Since then, he has have competed in 52 events, achieving 51 podium finishes, including:

✅ 26 Gold Medals

✅ 12 Silver Medals

✅ 8 Bronze Medals

✅ 3 Copper Medals

Major Titles & Achievements:

🏆 5x English Adaptive Surfing Champion

🏆 Winner of the first-ever Bali Pro (2019)

🏆 US Adaptive Surfing Champion (2021-2024)

🏆 Huntington Pro Champion (2021)

🏆 Spanish Champion (2022)

🏆 French Champion (2022)

🏆 Welsh Champion (2022)

🏆 French Grand Champion (2022)

🏆 Haleiwa Champion (2022)

🏆 !!! ISA WORLD PARA SURFING CHAMPION (2022, 2023 & 2024) !!!

🏆 Hawaii Champion (2023)

🏆 South Africa PSL Champion (2023)

🏆 Spanish PSL Champion (2023)

🏆 European Champion (2023)

🏆 French PSL Champion (2023)

🏆 Welsh PSL Champion (2023)

Contributions to the Surfing Community:

In 2019, Llywelyn founded the Welsh Para Surfing Championships, hosted at Surf Snowdonia, which became Wales’ first-ever adaptive surfing competition. This event has since evolved into a key stop in the Para Surf League (PSL), which now includes seven international competition locations.

Beyond competing, he is passionate about giving back to the ocean and my community. He regularly participates in local beach cleanups at Hells Mouth, particularly after storms that bring large debris ashore.

Llywelyn also served as an ambassador for Smart Energy (SmartEnergyGB.org), promoting sustainability and clean energy initiatives.

Recent Success & 2025 Goals:

Becoming the ISA World Para Surfing Champion in 2022, 2023, and 2024 has been the highlight of his career.

Representing Wales and hearing the national anthem on the podium was an unforgettable moment.

Winning in 2022 made him the first-ever Welsh surfing world champion, an achievement I still find surreal.

In 2023, Llywelyn competed in 13 events, securing:

🏅 9 First-Place Finishes

🥈 4 Second-Place Finishes

However, after returning home in December 2023, he underwent a hernia operation, which temporarily put his surfing on hold. As a result, he placed 3rd in two of the World Tour stops.

Now, he his focused on rehabilitation, strength training, and refining his surfing technique to return at full force for the 2025 season.

🔜 Upcoming Events for 2025:

➡️ AASP World Tour – Byron Bay, Australia (March)

➡️ Hawaii & California Stops

➡️ Further Expansion of Para-Surfing in North Wales

Follow HIS Journey:

For updates, competitions, and behind-the-scenes insights into his journey, follow Llywelyn on:

📷 Instagram: @spongeabersoch

📘 Facebook: Llywelyn 'Sponge' Williams

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