Two-time surfing world champion Tyler Wright will be fit to represent Australia at this month’s Olympic Games, according to her brother and former professional surfer Owen.
Wright withdrew from the World Surf League’s Rio Pro at the end of June, citing an unidentified injury.
At the time, a spokesperson for Wright told The Guardian that she was sitting out the competition to undergo necessary treatment.
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The move sparked questions as to whether Wright is fit to face the formidable Teahupo’o wave when Tahiti hosts the Olympic surfing events after the 30-year-old revealed in March her ongoing battle with breathing difficulties.
While Wright admitted to experiencing ongoing issues following a procedure to widen her mouth and airway space during the off-season, Owen was adamant that his sister would be fit and ready for the Olympic Games.
“Oh yeah, I guarantee she will be fit,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“These athletes have been travelling the world non-stop since the start of the year. So to pull out of an event to rest and recover, I think is a genius move.
“I know she is preparing right now and it will be really cool to see her get over there and tear it up.”
Having picked up the bronze medal at Tokyo 2020, Owen encouraged keeping a low profile before the Olympic Games.
“A year ago, when I passed on some knowledge to the team, I said, ‘Look, don’t hesitate to take an event off before the games’,” he said.
“I didn’t take an event off but I had the chance to fly home and quarantine, come out of quarantine for a week and then fly back over for the Games and I stayed overseas and just relaxed and trained.
“It was a really good run-in. I had four weeks to get my head together, and I didn’t have to bother with anything.
“So, I passed that on with the message not to hesitate to take a bit of time out, skip an event and get yourself prepped because it’s a lot. The Games are a lot and a lot of pressure and managing your own desire to win a medal.”
Wright was selected for the Australian team alongside Molly Picklum, Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing in May.
Owen expects big things from the group with multiple medals not out of the question.
“All four of our athletes are incredible,” he said.
“I honestly couldn’t pick between the boys — but if I had to — I’d probably pick Jack purely because he has won at the venue before but Ethan is just as good.
“In an Olympic Games setting, it’s all about pressure and mindset. It’s really hard to know who is going to be better there.
“In the female category, you’ve got Tyler and Molly. I’m going to back Tyler because I’m a bit biased.
“But I think they’re both made for that wave. They are both incredibly talented at that wave so we could easily win two medals in that event.
Asked what he hoped for Australia’s Olympic history in surfing, Owen gave a slightly self-interested response.
“I am the first medallist for surfing in Australia’s history and I hope the next medal is my sister’s,” he said.
“I would love her to get a medal. Obviously, I would love for the others to get a medal too but for our family, it would be really special to have a few medals from the first few times surfing was at the Olympics.
“We’ve lived and breathed our sport for a long time and I know my sister will be gunning for that.”
The Olympic surfing competition begins on July 27 and continues until August 5.