Surfing: Mick Fanning falls just short of fairytale finish as career comes to an end

Mick Fanning's legacy is undeniable - he'll go down as one of the best and most influential surfers to ever compete on the World Surf League Championship Tour.

After 16 seasons competing at the top level of the sport, the former three-time World Champion saw his career come to a close this week, almost in fairytale fashion.

Earlier in the year, the 36-year-old announced he would retire after the Rip Curl Pro at Victoria's Bells Beach this season, having lost the desire and motivation to continue to challenge for world titles. Tied with American Kelly Slater and Australian Mark Richards for the most event wins at Bells with four, Fanning was set up for a possible fairytale finish.

And, as he charged through the opening rounds, it looked like he might just ring the bell for an historic fifth time.

Mick you leeeeeegend! Can’t wait to watch history happen!
@wsl @Mick_Fanning #CheersMick pic.twitter.com/FFGU1D87Bu

— Paige Hareb (@paigehareb) March 29, 2018

Fanning reached the final of the event he first won as an 19-year-old wildcard entrant in 2001, and was one win away from walking away from the spot with a win and holding the No.1 world ranking.

Mick Fanning won his first event at Bells Beach as a 19-year-old wildcard in 2001. Photo / Getty Images

However, meeting the in-form surfer of the competition in Brazil's Italo Ferreira, Fanning's fairytale finish was not to be, as the 23-year-old Brazilian claimed his maiden World Tour event win, outscoring Fanning 15.66 to 12.83.

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This man 🙌🏻 epitome of champion #cheersmick

A post shared by Rosy Hodge (@rosyhodge) on Apr 4, 2018 at 7:11pm PDT

The Australian battler made headlines in 2015, and will most likely be remembered by those casual fans of the sport for his encounter with a great white shark at South African break Jeffrey's Bay during the final of the tour competition.

While that might have forced other to call it quits, Fanning returned to the scene in 2016 and went on to win the event.

Fanning walks away from the sport with 22 events victories and three world titles to his name, the latest in 2013; finish nine of his 16 seasons on tour among the top three in the world.

A win for Fanning at Bells Beach this week would have capped of a nostalgic competition, with tour veteran Stephanie Gilmore winning the women's side of the event to claim her fourth bell, and her first since 2010.

Congratulations @steph_gilmore, winner of the 2018 #RipCurlPro #BellsBeach!! 🔔🔔🔔🔔 @ripcurl @visitvictoria pic.twitter.com/AECcpa98Ti

— World Surf League (@wsl) April 5, 2018

.@Steph_gilmore loving @Mick_Fanning last wave pic.twitter.com/DN2qqkDdIn

— World Surf League (@wsl) April 5, 2018

Fanning walks away from the sport ranked third in the world, behind Ferreira and Australian Julian Wilson who, with event wins already under their belts, will look to push on to their maiden world titles.