"I honestly don't care about winning more world titles," Tyler Wright confesses to ESPN's Alyssa Roenigk.
"But I know what gets me in the room," she adds.
In a new, in-depth feature for ESPN released in conjunction with International Women's Day, Wright articulates her arduous return back to competition and why when when it was time to pull the jersey back on everything had changed for her.
"I realized if I'm coming back, I am going to show up with who I am as a human first," she explains. "Surfing needs people who are going to get into boardrooms and have hard conversations. I'm asking for equality for women, equality for the LGBTQ+ community, equality for Black and brown and indigenous people."
Roenigk's piece traces Wright's evolution as a surfer and advocate for equality all the back to the start of her surf career in the late 1990s. Following her journey through winning two World Titles, a two-year battle with post-viral syndrome to the top of the podium at Pipeline with a win at the recent Maui Pro presented by ROXY, Wright's story has been defined by her resolute ability to overcome huge hurdles in an out of the water.
"Being out of the sport made me look at surfing with honest eyes," Wright says.
Read the full story, "How world champion Tyler Wright came back from a crippling virus to change surfing forever," on ESPN now.
Tyler Wright taking a knee in solidarity with Black Lives Matter ahead of her heat at the Tweed Coast Pro event on September 13, 2020, - WSL / Matt Dunbar
Tyler Wright Looks At Surfing With "Honest Eyes" In New ESPN Feature
Jake Howard
"I honestly don't care about winning more world titles," Tyler Wright confesses to ESPN's Alyssa Roenigk.
"But I know what gets me in the room," she adds.
In a new, in-depth feature for ESPN released in conjunction with International Women's Day, Wright articulates her arduous return back to competition and why when when it was time to pull the jersey back on everything had changed for her.
"I realized if I'm coming back, I am going to show up with who I am as a human first," she explains. "Surfing needs people who are going to get into boardrooms and have hard conversations. I'm asking for equality for women, equality for the LGBTQ+ community, equality for Black and brown and indigenous people."
Roenigk's piece traces Wright's evolution as a surfer and advocate for equality all the back to the start of her surf career in the late 1990s. Following her journey through winning two World Titles, a two-year battle with post-viral syndrome to the top of the podium at Pipeline with a win at the recent Maui Pro presented by ROXY, Wright's story has been defined by her resolute ability to overcome huge hurdles in an out of the water.
"Being out of the sport made me look at surfing with honest eyes," Wright says.
Read the full story, "How world champion Tyler Wright came back from a crippling virus to change surfing forever," on ESPN now.
News
After two consecutive days of men's competition, the women hit the water on Day 3 of the World Surf League.
Women decimate their respective debuts with Silva, Wong and Van Dijk paving the way as Simkus and Couzinet closed out men's Round of 96.
2022 Women's Ride Of The Year Michelle des Bouillons at Nazare on February 10, 2022. Video from Artur Carvalho.
2022 Women's Ride Of The Year Paige Alms at Jaws on January 9, 2022. Video from Marcus Rodrigues.
2022 Women's Ride Of The Year Justine Dupont At Teahupoo on October 6, 2021. Video from Fred David.