Surfing phenom Erin Brooks banned from competing for Canada until citizenship request approved

The International Surfing Associated has suspended Erin Brooks's eligibility to compete for Canada because she is not yet a Canadian citizen.

The decision, announced Tuesday afternoon by the ISA, caught both the Brooks family and Canadian surfing officials by surprise. The Texan-born 15-year-old has been competing in ISA events under a Canadian flag even as she pursues dual citizenship.

In a statement, the ISA said Brooks should never have been allowed to compete as a Canadian. Surfing Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) requested in March 2022 that Brooks be allowed to compete for Canada as her citizenship application had been filed, but not completed.

The decision caught Brooks and her family by surprise. 

"There was no indication that this was coming, everything seemed fine, everything seemed to be moving forward," said Erin's father, Jeff Brooks, from South Africa where Erin was scheduled to compete. "This process has taken longer than any of us ever thought it would and I am still trusting in the COC and their efforts with the Canadian Immigration Minister to get Erin's citizenship issues resolved.

"I've told Erin to only focus on the things she can control which is to continue surfing and training. We are hopeful she will be reinstated soon and can get back on track to chasing her dream of representing Canada in the Olympics."

Surfing Canada president Lionel Conacher echoed those thoughts.

"We remain hopeful that Erin's Canadian citizenship status will get resolved soon so that she can get back to winning medals for Canada," Conacher said. 

The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) said it supports Brooks's citizenship application despite the ruling.

"We're aware of the ISA decision. We continue to support