“I Am Now 50 Years of Age and in Constant Pain Management”: 7x Surfing World Champion Reveals a Saddening Fact Despite Tremendous Success

Surfing is probably among the most demanding sports that require a superior physical aptitude and moxie. Those in practice are naturally competent athletes breezing through their waves of passion. However, it also often renders them vulnerable to life-altering injuries and conditions. Such is also the case for surfing great, Layne Beachley. 

In a recent article by Women’s Agenda, the Australian athlete opened up about the consequences of her successful career that have contributed to her present woes. She suffers from a chronic condition and hence, strives to create greater awareness about health and well-being. What happened to Beachley that soured her surfing experiences? Let’s find out.

Layne Beachley’s health concerns

According to the Women’s Agenda interview, the 50-year-old champion aced her foremost world tour title at the 1993 Diet Coke Women’s Classic event at the age of 21. Moreover, this was the stepping stone for her seven successive wins in the domain. Soon after, she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Hence, her shifting focus toward a healthier way of life was born out of it. “I am now 50 years of age and in constant pain management because of how much I’ve used my body and chose to have an all-or-nothing mentality,” she revealed. 

Further, she talked about her gradual shift from an “all-or-nothing” to a “win-at-all-costs” mentality which in the larger picture, predisposed her to health constraints. Beachley also deduced an interesting insight with regard to her body’s reactions to the intense physical labor she put it through. The New South Wales native claimed, “I’ve learned that over the course of my life that I’ve waited until my body was screaming, and even then I’ve ignored it.”

Read More: “Lost a Ton of Blood and Meat”: Popular YouTube Star Unearthed the Horrors of a ‘Freak’ Surfing Accident in 2020

Presently, she operates as the Chair of Surfing Australia, AIA Vitality ambassador, and co-founder o Awake Academy which guides people into an aware, and health-focused lifestyle. Besides that, the icon has also been a passionate advocate for gender equality during her surfing days. Which factors influenced her health concerns?

The lifestyle that led her to poor health

Elaborating on her past mistakes that added to her chronic condition, she unveiled that unhealthy nutrition, odd sleeping hours, and lack of self-awareness are what caused it. She labeled it as “physical abuse of her body.” She even admitted to being ignorant about her health during her youth. “We’ve all heard the classic phrase: health is wealth, but when you’re young, we tend to think we are bulletproof and invincible, and sabotage ourselves in really impactful ways that we’re unaware of,” Beachley told the source. 

To sum it up, she pushed her body to the limit, resulting in draining her of her full potential. “didn’t allow my body to properly recover or heal from the intense physical training,” she confessed. Similarly, Hawaiian surfer, Keala Kennelly also retired from the surfing industry in lieu of her injuries and excessive physical drainage. 

Watch This Story: A Huge Shock for Surfing Fans Before Vans Pipeline From Kelly Slater and John John Florence

Although the zeal to reach the top might tempt one to blindly focus on the prime goal, it is likely that the consequent health deterioration might be irreversible and scar their lives for good. Therefore, Beachley aims at creating mindful awareness among the population and prioritizing their personal well-being above other aspects of life. And it’s hard not to agree.