Despite Being Qualified for 2024 Paris Olympics, Surfer Shares Stories of Her “Silent Battles”

Costa Rican surfing star Brisa Hennessy is ranked 12th on the WSL Women’s Championship Tour 2023 with an average heat score of 8.86. She qualified with flying colors and will be competing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. She also received a wildcard for the next season of the WSL World Championship Tour. Because of this, she decided to skip the rest of the competitive events this season so that she could concentrate on herself.

In a recent interview, Hennessy gave an unfiltered, honest account of her life. Her past traumas and the ongoing process of recovery were among the topics that the 23-year-old shared with her followers for the first time.

Battles aside from the surfing waves

From the outside, the Costa Rican surfer’s life seems perfect. Yet, her internal demons kept pulling her down in the past. Hennessy’s low self-esteem about her physique dates back to when she was 16 years old. For over three years, Hennessy was candid about her struggle with an eating disorder. The surfer had a rough season last year since she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, depression, and the Epstein-Barr virus. She was also diagnosed with an adenoma of the pituitary gland this year, prompting her to temporarily withdraw from the professional surfing circuit.

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It’s difficult for her, Hennessy tells the Olympics, to be open about her flaws. She explains how conflicting her emotions were, saying, “I felt like I was in a fight with my body and my mind and questioning, why? Why is this happening to me? What’s wrong with me?” She worried about herself, but she also considered how many other people must be in the same position. Hennessy further adds that she is talking about “the silent battles that we know nothing about.” 

In particular, Hennessy’s recollection of her time as a proud representative of Costa Rica at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, was essential in her decision to tell her tale. It was then that she realized she was not alone in her struggles with mental health, and that she had the power to make a difference.

Making a difference, one step at a time

Brisa Hennessy, who had previously been conflicted about speaking out, has received overwhelming support from her followers. Fans and even other professional surfers sent heartfelt comments on Hennessy’s social media postings. Recognizing the influence of her words, she resolved to keep discussing her flaws.

After sharing her untold stories with the world, the surfer shared her feelings, saying, “I feel like I have a bigger purpose.” The Costa Rican’s newfound hope encourages her to continue speaking about her experiences. She also reveals her motivation, which is to aid other young girls who are struggling with the same issues from which Hennessy is currently recuperating.

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