Despite Having ‘Seven Screws’ in Head, Australian Surfing Icon Continues to Fight Barriers of Waves

The Paris-bound Aussie surfer Tyler Wright’s charming smile conceals the physical perplexities that have tried to obstruct her path to surfing glory. A dominant name in the WSL, the 29-year-old has triumphed in the Women’s World Champion for two consecutive years, 2016 and 2017. The Culburra Beach native hails from a family of surfers who tried to simplify her life. But if we dig deep into her physical complications, nothing fits the career she pursued.

In 2008, at Layne Beachley’s Beachley Classic, the then 14-year-old became the youngest ever to secure victory in a Championship Tour event. Already the owner of 16 World Tour event wins, Wright’s surfing journey took a scary turn without her knowledge. However, her undying spirit shone through.

Surfing icon functions with seven screws in her head

Sporting an unusual anatomy didn’t pose a problem until some doctors made her aware of her condition. “Through one of the specialists we ended up finding that most of the time I’m under-oxygenated, and I’m semi-suffocating all the time through my nose, and my airways are really small”, said the Aussie. Since this condition disrupted her daily functionality, an expansion of the nasal airway was necessary. So, acting on it quickly was what Tyler Wright decided to do. “So through the off-season I got a maxillary palatal expander [a device that widens the mouth] in. Essentially I’ve got seven screws in my head, between nine and 17 millimetres [in length], and in the off-season I expanded it. Essentially it popped the bone and I got seven millimetres [of extra airway space] through that.”

Now in the post-surgery phase, she feels the ‘sanest,’ but the hiccups persist. Set to compete in the quarter-final showdown in Portugal, the 29-year-old shares how she’s navigating through the new system. Let’s hear her shed more light on it.

Consequences of the operation

“I kind of got a concussion before the season started and every time I tap it, it wigs me out a bit”, said Wright. Though one part of her brain works fine, the other part incited some “pressure points”. She added: “I’ve got to train a new system. Thirteen years in it’s perplexing and does my head in a little bit. But I’m working it through, and I’ve got great support and great doctors.”

The aforementioned statement asserts that professionals are trying their best to better Wright’s life amid a stellar surfing career. “It’s been really successful and it’s changing my life, but it’s also a process and that’s only step one and a half of a multi-step process.” With a seat booked at the Paris Olympics 2024, the 29-year-old will represent Australia alongside other Aussie greats.

READ MORE: Could Paris Olympics Harm Nature? Deep Dive into the Historic Surfing Venue’s Environmental Impact