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Stephanie Gilmore sustained a cut on the back of her head, a broken wrist and cuts to her hand. (Getty Images: Kirstin Scholtz)
Four-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore has been bashed with an iron bar during a violent attack overnight.
The 22-year-old was reportedly hit twice in the stairwell of her apartment complex in Tweed Heads on the New South Wales far north coast around 9:30pm (AEDT).
She sustained a cut on the back of her head, a broken wrist and cuts to her hand.
Police say Gilmore was approached and assaulted by a man who then fled on a bicycle.
The surfing champion was taken to hospital for treatment.
Police say the man later returned to the unit complex, where he was seen by Gilmore's neighbours.
They held him there until police were able to come and arrest him.
The alleged attacker was taken to Tweed Heads police station where he was charged with numerous offences including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Police say he was refused bail in Tweed Heads Magistrates Court this morning.
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.
Interviewed by the Seven Network, with a cast on her arm and hand, Gilmore said it will be six weeks before she was back in the surf.
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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