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Peace.

That's what Caroline Marks, the 22-year-old browsing sensation, feels on the waves.

No phone, no distractions. Just a deep connection between man and Mother Nature. Board and sea.

Marks describes it as “painting a picture.”

“When you're on the wave, you're very free,” Marks said. “It's a blank canvas. It's never the same wave and it's always exciting. It's a sport you can never really master.”

This love affair with browsing took Marks to the highest of the game. Multiple national championships. She was the youngest surfer to qualify for the Women's Championship Tour. She was the youngest woman to compete in a World Surf League (WSL) event. The crowning glory: winner of the WSL Women's World Tour at age 21.

Marks is a component of the U.S. Olympic browsing team for the 2024 Paris Games. Starting July 27, she will probably be browsing the historic waves of Teahupo'o in Tahiti, removed from the Eiffel Tower. In her second Olympic Games, Marks has her sights set on the rostrum after narrowly missing out on a bronze medal in Tokyo.

Caroline has been spending as much time as possible on the End of the Road because it was added to the Women's Tour and is a Teahupo'o veteran, securing her first victory in Tahiti in 2023 over US teammate Caity Simmers.

Marks continues Florida’s decades-long tradition … pic.twitter.com/6GghdKtI0F

— World Surf League (@wsl) July 16, 2024

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Growing up in Melbourne Beach, Florida, the third of six children, Marks desired to be like her brothers. Her first taste of sports was horseback riding and barrel racing. But if she desired to impress her brothers, Marks needed to try a more adventurous sport.

Then got here browsing. Her oldest brother Luke competed in junior and skilled competitions. Marks got into the water at age 7. There was a surf spot across the road from Marks' apartment in Melbourne Beach where she surfed for the primary time.

It wasn't only a sport she could beat her brothers at. Surfing became a viable profession.

The Marks family moved to San Clemente, California, a hotspot for surfers. The move to the Golden Coast was closely linked to Marks' rise. At age 11, Marks won the Surfing America Prime for under-12s, the premier amateur browsing competition. At age 15, Marks was the youngest competitor to qualify for the WSL Championship Tour. More titles followed in 2019, with Marks taking two wins and ending the yr in second place.

With the meteoric success got here enormous expectations. There was little question that Marks was a rising star in browsing. The query was, when would she win the highest events? For surfers, that's a World Championship and the Olympics.

In December 2019, Marks finished second on the WSL Championship Tour behind Carissa Moore, a five-time world champion and first Olympic gold medalist. This secured Marks a spot on the inaugural U.S. Olympic Surfing Team in Tokyo.

The first two rounds of the browsing competition are preliminary rounds. In the third round, the head-to-head knockout competition begins with the round of 16. This is followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. Marks made it to the semi-finals, where he lost to South African surfer Bianca Buitendag. In the duel for the bronze medal, Marks lost to Japanese Amuro Tsuzuki by 2.54 points.

“It obviously sucked,” said Marks. “I was really disappointed.”

Marks didn't realise the pressure as she rose up the browsing rankings. She was winning events at such a young age and the whole lot happened so quickly. She never lacked confidence, but crossing that threshold and becoming a world champion isn't easy.

In 2022, Marks missed half of the browsing season to, as she says, “deal with recurring medical and health issues.” She didn’t qualify for the WSL Finals.

Joy all the time accompanied Marks browsing, but today she admits that she put an excessive amount of pressure on herself and made her happiness depending on the outcomes.

“Surfing is your life, your purpose in life, it comes before anything else,” said Marks. “That's how it should be if you want to win and achieve something. You put so much into the preparation, don't get the result you want and then you get really depressed.”

Marks leaned on her support system. Family and friends. She lived by the motto, “If you don't win, you learn.” The disappointment of Tokyo become gratitude. She was thankful to be on the Olympic team, to surf with a job model like Moore, and to satisfy athletes like American long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall within the Olympic Village.

It has inspired Marks to return to browsing as a more resilient athlete.

On her return to competition in June 2023, Marks won the El Salvador Surf City Pro, a WSL event, followed by a win on the Tahiti Pro, on the identical course as Paris 2024, culminating within the Rip Curl WSL Finals last September in Lower Trestles, California, her home state.

Marks entered the competition because the number three seed, defeating fourth-seeded Caitlin Simmers and second-seeded double world champion Tyler Wright en path to the ultimate, establishing a rematch against Moore.

Marks had a big group of supporters on the beach. Friends from California, family from Florida, coaches and support staff. All there to witness a possible coronation.

Marks didn’t disappoint. In the primary heat, she showed off her backhand and carving skills (the 180-degree activate the wave) with great force. The bottom turn and top turn underlined Marks' control of the wave. She scored 8.67 (out of 10) and compelled Moore to react. Marks' overall rating in the primary heat was 17.10 in comparison with 14.97 for Moore.

In the second run, Mark's maneuvers with the board earned her a rating of seven.00. She followed that up with a rating of seven.60, securing the title of world champion.

The World Champion 2023 #CarolineMarks

Repeat the #RipCurlWSLFinals now https://t.co/ie0ZfMWjFw.@ripcurl pic.twitter.com/a4apPdBSey

— World Surf League (@wsl) 13 September 2023

When her fans lifted Marks up on the beach to have a good time her, she felt like “a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.” But the actual joy was celebrating with the individuals who had helped her achieve this crowning achievement.

“All of these people have made a sacrifice for me to get me where I need to be to achieve my goal, and I think this is just the best way to repay them,” Marks said.

With the Olympics just two weeks away, Marks is putting the ending touches to her preparations. She will arrive in Tahiti 10 days before the Olympic browsing competition begins. An opportunity to get used to the waves of Tahiti, deal with rest and rest, while having fun with time together with her parents, her two younger siblings and other members of the family.

Marks won’t be together with her fellow Americans on the opening ceremony. She will probably be on an island nearly 10,000 miles away. Her goal is to bring the hardware for the closing ceremony.

Marks admits she is a unique athlete and person since three years ago, but once she is on the board, she is free.

No phone. No distractions. Just a surfer trying to overcome the waves.

The athlete

Follow live coverage of the primary day of the Open 2024 from Royal Troon today

TROON, Scotland — Every day the questions got here, one after the opposite, and Scottie Scheffler got mad about whether he would go away the Masters while his wife was in labor with their first child. The entire week revolved around this emotional turning point in his life. People and Us Weekly followed it like celebrity gossip. Here at, we even wrote a story about how Scheffler took the lead Saturday night without his wife, Meredith, by his side.

The baby's due date was just one month away.

When Bennett was finally born in May, an ESPN reporter ambiguously announced the news with the hashtag #babyborn. The PGA Tour made the announcement on its website. Scheffler's arrival this week on the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, was like a royal appearance.

Scottie Scheffler's life is suddenly very different. A golfer once considered boring, unexciting and mediocre has someway gone from being a extremely good golfer to being incredibly famous. A player who talked greater than anyone else on Tour in regards to the importance of keeping golf and life separate – in regards to the fundamental must stay grounded despite success and generational wealth – is now the focal point. His injuries and equipment changes make headlines. His family is fodder for the tabloids. A bizarre arrest in Louisville made him a world fascination. His rare weeks when he finishes outside the highest 10 in a significant are treated like disasters.

Scheffler was the world's No. 1 golfer for 96 of the last 121 weeks. But it wasn't until 2024 that he became a superstar.

“It was definitely a little more difficult,” Scheffler said on Tuesday before the Open Championship at Royal Troon. “I think I'm definitely continuing to play better this year – especially in tournaments, I think there's just a lot more happening from day to day. I think I almost had to get more into it, just keep working on my calmness so that it's really restful.”

Scheffler has all the time tried hard to maintain his life small. He has some big sponsorship deals, but they’re minimal in number. He doesn't post his life on social media. He stays away from his phone for a remarkable period of time overall.

And before this 12 months, that was all nice. He was No. 1 on this planet. He was the 2022 Masters champion. But he was the fifth most famous player in his sport. He might be normal. Ignore an occasional interview? No big deal. Not sign a contract for a fan? Oh well, he wants more other people anyway.

But beyond elevating his game to recent levels in 2024, something has noticeably modified. He's won six major tournaments in his last 10 starts, including his second Masters green jacket in April. Conversations around major championships have develop into, “Who's your favorite, you know, other than Scottie?” And while his galleries were solid but unremarkable a 12 months ago, Scheffler now has the largest fan base alongside Tiger Woods, as fans need to see history made.

A certain sense of responsibility is now evident in his public appearances. He seems to have understood that.

“It's a pretty cool feeling to make someone's day by signing an autograph or taking a picture,” Scheffler said. “It's a pretty fun feeling. I try to capitalize more on that side of it than not being able to sign everyone's autograph. People get upset because you can't get a hold of them all day. That's not a nice feeling. I try to capitalize more on making someone's day by signing something or taking a picture.”

It's fascinating how this has slowly developed. It's really easy to forget that his pre-tournament press conference on the Players Championship in March was stuffed with questions on how unfamous he was and why, for some reason, he hadn't made as much of an impact as other big stars.

But something happened within the second round that week. He had won the Arnold Palmer Invitational the week before with a brand new putter, and there was increasing talk of how unstoppable he could be with a greater green shot. Then, that Friday, Scheffler injured his neck barely and needed to be massaged before every tee shot for several holes. Suddenly, a few dozen reporters from the media center rushed to catch him on the back nine. It was urgent. It was covered in a way that golf injuries are almost never covered. Of course, he got here back from behind and won.

His four-shot victory on the Masters was treated as a given. He had Tiger-like odds as a 4-1 favorite, while his week was continually dominated by the arrival of his son. His greatness took on a brand new tone.

But it was that strange, horrific day in Louisville that took Scheffler over the Rubicon. When Scheffler was slammed right into a automobile and arrested before the second round of the PGA Championship, it was a viral, lightning-fast moment. By the time he teed off, hours after his prison sentence, fans had “Free Scottie” T-shirts and were buying prisoner costumes in support. They were for him, and all due to one freak incident.

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 16, 2024

Since that Masters victory, he has won three more times. When he finished forty first on the US Open in June – his first time in 2 1/2 years ending outside the highest 25 at a significant – it was met with concern.

So how does someone who places such importance on living a quiet life outside of golf cope with this recent level of attention and be certain that it doesn't affect his profession?

“I think that's something my wife and I are constantly working on,” Scheffler said. “What does recovery look like when we're home and resting? It doesn't necessarily mean sitting there watching TV. We do a lot of different things to get good rest so that when we get back on the road and playing and doing things, I have the energy to compete. I have the energy – really the social energy to go out and interact with the fans and do stuff like that, sit in the media center.”

This is where Scheffler now lives, for higher or for worse. He is an envoy now. He is a celeb. He has responsibilities and expectations. And sometimes meaning strange interactions with strangers who recognize him.

“There are always some funny ones because I think sometimes people don't know exactly what to say and they can be a little weird sometimes,” he said, laughing.

This week at Royal Troon, Scheffler will attempt to cap a historic 12 months. He has the prospect to develop into the primary golfer since Arnold Palmer in 1962 to win seven tournaments up thus far in July, and a second major in 2024 would show just how great he has been.

So, yes, Scheffler has finally accepted that he's famous. He admits that his life is different and that's not going to vary. But don't expect Scheffler to clarify why people love him.

“I can't tell you,” said Scheffler with a smile. “You'd have to ask yourself.”

Americans aged 60 and over lost greater than $3 billion to scammers in 2023, in keeping with the FBI.

To put this massive number into context, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour recently made headlines as first concert tour ever to gross $1 billion.

As a geriatrician – a health care provider who cares for people over 65 years of age – I consider the fraud against older people has epidemic proportions. My patients often tell me that they’ve been deceived.

The consequences will be worse than simply losing money. The experience is traumatic for a lot of, with some victims feel deep shame and, in consequence, self-doubt. This can affect their relationships, undermine their trust in others, and harm their mental and physical health.

Teaching older Americans how one can recognize and avoid fraud – and how one can report such crimes – could help mitigate the impact of this contemporary epidemic.

Fraud against the elderly is increasing

A current FBI report shows how widespread fraud against the elderly is. In 2023, Americans over 60 filed 14% more complaints with the FBI Cybercrime Complaints Centeror IC3 than within the previous yr. Estimated financial losses increased by about 11% over the identical period.

These numbers, as grim as they’re, represent just the tip of the iceberg. For one thing, only about half of the cybercrime reports reported to the FBI included information concerning the victim's age—meaning reported cases of elder fraud are underreported.

In addition, these figures don’t consider the various scams that happen over the phone, by mail or in person. And many scam victims never report their experiences – actually because They are embarrassed, afraid or don't know what to do.

While People of all ages Older persons are particularly liable to becoming victims of fraud.

The FBI has identified that older adults are sometimes targeted because they are likely to be more trusting and polite. She often have financial savings, Homes And have a great credit standing – all of this makes them more attractive to fraudsters.

Older people might also be less comfortable with recent technologies, putting them in danger. Consider that somebody who’s 85 years old could have retired in 2004 – three years before Apple introduced the iPhoneWhile many types of technology have permeated our personal lives, many individuals receive mandatory training within the workplace – for instance, on how one can avoid online fraud.

The wide world of fraud

In 2023 Technical support scam were essentially the most commonly reported variety of fraud against the elderly. Other common scams are Love scam, Online shopping fraud And Investment fraudWhile fraud is most typical within the technology sector, investment fraud is the most costly. Almost half of all reported losses of those over 60 years of age last yr.

Fraudulent call centers are also known to focus on older adults. Such scams consist of 40% of reported cases of fraud against the elderly in 2023, in keeping with the FBI, which suggests at the very least $770 million in losses. Many are using recent technologies similar to artificial intelligence to deceive people more effectively with Fraud with voice clones or “Deepfake” videos.

Call center scammers tell all types of lies. In 2022, greater than 600 people reported being victims of a single timeshare-related scam. They lost nearly $40 million together. And within the second half of 2023, scammers posing as government officials and technical support staff urged victims to liquidate their assets or buy precious metals – reported losses amounted to over $55 million.

Combating a fraud epidemic

As with any epidemic, “infection control measures” can assist us contain the spread. Just as vaccines create immunity against viruses, prevention measures can assist people strengthen their defenses to avoid scams. The most vital tool for fraud prevention is learning how one can spot potential scams prematurely. Here are some FBI-approved tricks to show you how to just do that:

• If you think there may be an instantaneous danger to yourself or a loved one, call the police immediately.

• Be wary of unsolicited telephone calls, mail, and door-to-door service offers.

• Do not click on unwanted links that you just receive via email or text message – even when they seem like from people you already know. And never open an email attachment from someone you have no idea.

• If you’ve got any doubts a few person or company, search online for his or her name, email, phone number and addresses, in addition to details of the offers they provide. These days, most legitimate firms have some level of online presence. And whether it is a scam, you could find other have already passed on information about it.

• Never give or send anything to unverified people or firms, including personal information, money, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire transfer information.

• Make sure your computer's anti-virus, security software and malware protection are up so far.

• Malicious actors can use pop-ups to spread malware. If you see a pop-up message, disconnect from the Internet and shut down your device. You can enable pop-up blockers to stop you from by accident clicking on a message.

• Do not give anyone you have no idea distant access to “fix” your computer or other electronic devices. This could give them access to non-public information, including details of your bank accounts.

• If you might be asked to misinform your bank about why you’ll want to transfer money or make a withdrawal, it might be a scam. A good company may even not insist that you just keep secrets from family or friends.

• Resist the pressure to act quickly. This is a vital point: scammers often create a false sense of urgency. A good company will make you rethink your financial decisions.

• And most significantly, trust your instincts.

What to do in the event you think you’ve got fallen victim to a scam?

Despite your best efforts, you could fall for a scammer. If that happens, know that you just are usually not alone – and that you may get better. Here are some tips about how one can take care of the aftermath:

• If a criminal gains access to your device or account, take steps to guard your identity. If a bank is involved, contact your financial institution immediately to guard your accounts and monitor your accounts and private information for suspicious activity.

• Contact Your local FBI field officeor, if the crime was committed via the Internet, Submit your tip online.

• When reporting a scam, provide as many details as possible. This may include names, contact information, communication methods, telephone numbers, email and postal addresses, and web sites utilized by the perpetrator.

• Also note the payment methods you used to transfer money – including wire transfers and prepaid cards – and account numbers. Describe your interactions with the scammer and any instructions you received.

• Keep original documents, emails, faxes and communication logs wherever possible.

• Falling for a scam will be scary and stressful. Talk to people you already know and trust to support you during this difficult time. Some support groups are the AARP Fraud Watch Network and that Cybercrime Support Network Peer Support Program.

• If your emotional response is overwhelming, you must talk over with a counselor, therapist or your medical team.

If you or someone you like falls for a scam, you are usually not alone. Not even law enforcement professionals are immune. At the age of 90, former FBI Director William Webster fell victim to a scam – an experience he courageously shared with the world.

I encourage my patients to not be too ashamed to inform what happened. Talking about these experiences is a vital step within the fight against this epidemic.