Having Qualified for the Paris Olympics, 22 YO Surfer Opens Up on Battling Dyslexia, Parental Loss, and Injuries, Says “It Takes a Lot of Courage”

It takes a lot of guts to commit all-in to glory that might not end in fruition. Surprisingly, Saffi Vette, the Kiwi surfer has displayed enough bravery to clinch the tickets to the Paris Olympics 2024, without initially being sure of the discipline’s induction to the Olympics! As a child, Vette was passionate about football and athletics. While most ordinary people would take the safe path and follow one of the two disciplines, Vette had enough reasons not to. 

Apart from being influenced by her father, the waters provided significant serenity to Vette, after struggling a great deal with dyslexia. Her journey from learning impairment to Olympic glory is as fascinating as it can get. On her way up, thorns and bruises posed ample threats but it was the New Zealander’s grit that came out victorious in the end. 

Surfing through life’s challenges, Saffi Vette’s road to Paris Olympics 

Vette competed in the Surf City El Salvador, but unfortunately could not qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. Three years went by in between. And coming back to the same place Vette claimed her glory back as she finally qualified for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024. After qualifying for the Olympics, the New Zealand surfer added, “It takes a lot of courage to be an Olympian.”

But Vette had to fight against the tide, even in her life beyond the surfing realm. At a young age, Vette was diagnosed with dyslexia. However, life still had more challenges in store for her. The 22-year-old surfer lost his father, Andrew Vette, to cancer. Andrew, too, was a competitive surfer. He and his wife Vanessa settled not far away from a beach so that they could enjoy all the waves they could. Saffi Vette said, “It definitely runs in the family. We’ve been immersed in the ocean ever since we were super, super young.” During the festive seasons, Vette and her brother Finn were gifted with boogie boards and later foam surfboards.

But life did not take an easy turn as she lost her beloved father, her first coach and mentor at the early age of 19. And she was not ready to give up on her and her family’s dreams. It was not even four months after she lost her father in 2020 when she emerged victorious in the national championships. “While I was out there in the water, I remembered Dad telling me I had nothing to lose and I could do anything I want”, shared Vette after her winning moments.

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Saffi Vette’s surfing triumph over adversity

Although Vette missed her beloved father during such a special moment in her life, her mother was there as her biggest cheerleader and her constant support. “To have her here was super, super special. She was bawling her eyes out”, said Vette, referring to her mother’s reaction. Vette was unexpectedly diagnosed with dyslexia during her school days. It was surfing that made it easier for her to tackle such a situation.

She shared that the ocean was her friend. “It’s a place that I can go to relax and have a breather if anything’s going on in my life that’s hard or that’s challenging me. I can go out, and I can just be in the ocean and forget everything,” shared Vette. Surfing was included as an Olympic sport in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Vette shared her thoughts on the same, “I had no idea surfing would ever be a possibility in the Olympics. It was such a surprise. The Olympics is so iconic. That surfers around the globe have this unique opportunity to make the Olympics now.” From a very tender age, Saffi Vette admired the Olympians while she watched the Olympics on television, and getting a ticket to the Paris Olympics was like a ‘dream come true’ moment for her.

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