“Help Fill the Void”: Days After Marking the End of an Era, Olympic Medalist Makes an Appeal to the Surfing Community

33-year-old surfer Owen Wright recently concluded his 15-year surfing journey at the 2023 Rip Curl Pro championship. After experiencing a traumatic brain injury in 2015, he made a glorious comeback in 2017. However, this year the Olympic bronze medalist realized that the waves did not beckon him anymore. Wright bid goodbye to surfing after competing at Bells Beach in Victoria, held from April 4 to 14. As he enjoys his retirement, the former surfer has an exciting appeal for his well-wishers.

When Wright was in his recovery phase, he derived great help from camping. In his recent Facebook post, he had a special message for his fans related to adventure sports.

Owen Wright wants fans to share their bucket list with him

On April 9, Wright made an emotional farewell to the World Surf League tour after getting eliminated in round 32 at Bells Beach. Following his retirement, he expressed his gratitude for his long surfing journey in his latest Facebook post.

Furthermore, he recalled his fondness for outdoor activities that he indulged in for leisure. Wright also wrote about how he “discovered the solace of camping.” Simple activities like pitching a tent and sleeping under the stars with friends and family helped him maintain his calm in his tough times.

Now as Wright’s competitive surfing phase is over, he expressed his excitement to explore more adventurous places around the world. “I am filled with hope that camping and adventuring will help fill the void that competing for so long has left behind,” he added. The former surfer wishes to dedicate his interest to outdoor adventure as he has ample time for it.

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The 33-year-old appealed to his fans to suggest him destinations that they think should be there on his bucket list. Wright added that he is excited to hear from his fans and add their suggestion in his next adventure “with renewed enthusiasm and a sense of wonder!”

A Throwback to Owen Wright’s surfing injury from 2015

In 2015, when Owen Wright ranked fifth in the World Surfing League and was looking forward to a great season ahead, he faced a career-ending tragedy. While preparing for the Pipeline championship in Hawaii, Wright experienced a traumatic wipeout. The wave swallowed the retired surfer and left him unconscious.

He experienced a near-fatal brain surgery that resulted from brain effusion. The consequence of the injury haunted the surfer’s basic activities. Wright was unable to do simple things like his ability to walk, experienced headaches, and adrenaline outbursts.

After months of rehabilitation under neuropathy and psychologists, Wight decided to re-learn surfing. Within some time, he was able to surf and soon surprised the world by winning the World Surfing League Quicksilver Pro Gold Coast in 2017. He also made history by winning the first bronze medal in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics for Australia.

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