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Stephanie Gilmore says she will not let the attack affect her career (Seven Network)
Surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore says she will be out of the water for about six weeks as a result of being bashed with an iron bar on Monday night.
A man has been charged after Gilmore was hit twice in the stairwell of her apartment complex in Tweed Heads on the New South Wales far north coast about 9:30pm (AEDT).
The 22-year-old world champion sustained a broken wrist and cuts to the back of her head and her hand.
Wearing a cast on her left arm, Gilmore told the Seven Network yesterday afternoon that she will not let the attack affect her career.
"I am OK and I think I'll be alright," she said.
"It's a bit of a shame. I won't let my confidence get down, that's the main thing."
Police say Gilmore was approached and assaulted by a man who then fled on a bicycle.
The man, who was known to neighbours, later returned to the unit complex.
They held him there until police were able to come and arrest him.
Gilmore told Seven she was grateful for the support she had received.
"Family and friends were here to help me and that's the main thing," she said.
"So I'm happy that everyone's OK and just leave it up to the courts now."
A 26-year-old man has been charged with numerous offences, including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was refused bail in Tweed Heads Magistrates Court yesterday morning and is due to appear again on January 10.
Gilmore's team manager Gary Dunne is also confident of a speedy recovery.
"Fortunately, in Steph's case, she has only suffered a wrist fracture and a cut to the head that required some stitches," he said.
"Obviously [she's] very shaken by the whole thing, but looks like she'll be fine in a couple of weeks."
Gilmore is the reigning world surfing champion and has won the title four years running (2007-10).
She was the first surfer, male or female, to win four world titles from as many attempts.
Less than a fortnight ago she won a historic third straight Triple Crown of Surfing in Hawaii.
She has said eclipsing Layne Beachley's seven world gongs, six consecutively, was part of her grand plan.
The 2011 Women's Surfing World Tour starts on February 26, with the first event taking place on the Gold Coast.
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