Olympic bronze medallist Wright retires after 12 years on world tour, the 33-year-old veteran famous for fighting back from a traumatic brain injury in 2015
33-year-old veteran fought back from traumatic brain injury in 2015Owen Wright has made an emotional farewell to the World Surf League tour, moving into retirement after his exit at Bells Beach.
Wright announced before the competition that after 12 years on tour Bells would be his last, forced into retirement after medical advice that another big head knock could cause major damage.The 33-year-old suffered a traumatic brain injury in a wipe-out in Hawaii in 2015 but fought his way back to win Olympic bronze in Tokyo, while he also claimed four competition titles along the journey.
Wright led their heat until world No 10-ranked Ewing, whose mother Helen Lambert won Bells in 1983, pulled out one of the waves of the day.Flanked by fans, Wright was chaired up the beach by two friends to be greeted by his wife, singer Kita Alexander and their two young children. “I’ve had a wild career and I’m extremely grateful for it - the tough times and the celebrations, the journey, to finish it here walking up the steps and high-fiving my buddies - I’m super grateful for this moment.”
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