True grit’s all Wright

FOR every success story in professional sport there are dozens of dreams derailed by serious injury – the promising young footballer cut down by a busted knee; the apprentice jockey forced into retirement by a fall; the surfer unable to fulfil his potential because of a horror wipe-out.

For a while, many followers of the sport thought that surfer was Owen Wright.

After suffering a traumatic brain injury in Hawaii, it wasn’t just a matter of whether Wright would surf competitively again – there were concerns he would never be himself again.

He had to relearn how to surf. On his first paddle since the accident he couldn’t even stand up.

Yet somehow Wright built on that humbling experience and last weekend won the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks.

With that success under his belt, no one would think less of Wright if he decided to sit out the more dangerous waves on tour such as Teahupo’o in Tahiti.

He’s having none of that, and is champing at the bit to get to Margaret River in Western Australia where waves top 10m.

This comeback story, already one of the best in modern sport, isn’t over yet.