Owen Wright made a dream comeback by taking out the first event of the 2017 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour.
The Australian surfer defeated Matt Wilkinson in a tight battle at Snapper Rocks and won the third CT event of his career. Wright, who spent the last 12 months recovering from a serious injury, tastes his best result ever on the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.
"At the start of February, I was sitting in the doctor's office, and there were question marks on the year. So to be sitting here right now, we just pushed hard and went hard. I confronted every fear of getting back into it," explained Wright.
"There were a lot of fears I needed to push through to get back into the sport and back into what pretty much took me out and could have taken me out forever. I kept going and kept doing it. I am just so stoked."
Owen Wright's task was not easy at all. The goofy-footer had to beat Gabriel Medina in the semifinals before taking on his friend and teammate Matt Wilkinson. In the final, it was an 8.33 that eventually decided the winner.
"I couldn't have done it without all the support of my friends and family, including my partner and my little baby boy. We just kept going, and the team just kept saying, 'Keep breaking it down,' and 'Keep going Owen, keeping getting back there.' This is what I love. This is what I love doing." concluded Wright.
In the women's competition, Stephanie Gilmore defeated Lakey Peterson and raised the sixth Roxy Pro title and 25th event trophy of her career.
“I can't believe it; I've been visualizing holding that trophy so much. I haven't had the yellow jersey for a while, and it's going to feel so good to put that on," concluded Gilmore.
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2017 | Final
1. Owen Wright (AUS) 14.66
2. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.50
Roxy Pro Gold Coast 2017 | Final
1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.60
2. Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.66