Surfing Legend Sunny Garcia's Struggles Linger Years After Retirement

Fans remain concerned about the former pro surfer's well-being and family issues.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:06pm by Ben Kaplan

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An abstract, energetic painting in neon colors depicting the dynamic motion of a surfer riding a large wave, conveying the spirit and impact of Sunny Garcia's surfing career.A painting that captures the raw power and emotion of legendary surfer Sunny Garcia's career, as fans continue to wonder about his well-being years after his abrupt retirement.Portland Today

Sunny Garcia, one of the most accomplished professional surfers of all time, quietly left the sport around 2009 without much warning or an official retirement. In the years since, he has faced mental health struggles, including a reported suicide attempt in 2019 that left him hospitalized in critical condition. While he recovered, his adult children have since claimed he is being kept away from them and his other loved ones by a woman in his life, raising ongoing concerns about his well-being.

Why it matters

Sunny Garcia was a surfing icon who had a major impact on the sport, making his sudden departure and subsequent personal struggles all the more impactful for fans who have followed his career. His story highlights the challenges that even elite athletes can face with mental health and family issues, even long after retiring from their sport.

The details

In 2019, Sunny Garcia was reported to be in critical condition and in a coma in a Portland, Oregon hospital, though details about what led to his hospitalization were scarce at the time. It was later revealed that he had attempted to die by suicide. He slowly recovered, but in 2020 his children, who run the Instagram account Pray for Sunny, shared that they were no longer legally permitted to provide updates on his health or progress. In 2024, his children made serious claims about a woman in Sunny's life who they said was keeping him away from his loved ones, and alluded to a change in him in the two years leading up to his suicide attempt.

  • In 2019, Sunny Garcia was hospitalized in critical condition in Portland, Oregon.
  • In 2020, Sunny's children said they were no longer legally allowed to provide updates on his health.
  • In 2024, Sunny's children made claims about a woman in his life who was allegedly keeping him away from his family.

The players

Sunny Garcia

A legendary professional surfer who quietly left the sport around 2009 and has since faced mental health struggles, including a reported suicide attempt in 2019.

Sunny Garcia's children

Sunny's adult children, who run the Instagram account Pray for Sunny, have provided updates on his well-being and made claims about a woman in his life keeping him from his loved ones.

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What they’re saying

“We have been told we (myself, Logan, and Stone) are not allowed to give out any information to ANYONE about our dad anymore. And that's why the updates stopped. I'm sorry it has to be this way because I know there are so many of you who love and care for my dad, including those of you who have known my dad for 30-40+ years or longer and are so eager just to know how he is doing. We wish things were different, but this is the reality of this situation for now.”

— Sunny Garcia's daughter

“Dad struggled with depression for a very long time. But throughout the years he'd been able to make it through trials and tribulations being surrounded by the light and love of his family, friends, and of course his dogs and his dirt bikes. I really wish he had never met her. I'm curious if anyone else noticed a change in my dad in the two years leading up to his attempted suicide?”

— One of Sunny Garcia's children

The takeaway

Sunny Garcia's story serves as a poignant reminder of the personal struggles that even elite athletes can face, even long after retiring from their sport. His family's ongoing concerns about his well-being and the claims of a negative influence in his life highlight the complexities of mental health and the importance of support systems for those dealing with depression and other challenges.