Tyler Wright will likely be out to emulate her Olympics medal-winning brother after Australia confirmed their browsing squad for the Paris Video games. The 2-time world champion will likely be joined within the Irukandjis crew by Molly Picklum, Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing, with all 4 surfers set to make their Olympics debut.
The Paris Video games browsing occasion will likely be held at Teahupo’o in Tahiti, and Wright confessed she should overcome her fears when competing on the famed and harmful break. Browsing was added to the Olympics program on the Tokyo Video games, when Owen Wright claimed a bronze medal.
“To see browsing within the Olympics in Tokyo 2020 was sort of surreal,” Wright stated. “The Olympics for me is one thing I’ve sat down [to watch] since I used to be younger and simply spent two weeks completely obsessing over the game. To see my very own sport there was sort of bizarre however so cool. I’m excited to see the place it could go from right here.
“Teahupo’o is an enormous wave of consequence. It’s stunning, it’s uncooked and it’s a wave the place you don’t need to discover out the results. You need to go in with a very humble and respectful method to mom nature and what she produces.
“Greater than doubtless I’m going to be scared, however it’s being trustworthy with that and sticking to what’s vital for me in that chance, that’s all I can ask for myself.”
The 4 Australians provisionally certified for Paris by ending within the high 5 of the World Surf League’s finish of season rankings in 2023, then confirmed their spots by taking part within the 2024 World Browsing Video games in Puerto Rico.
Wright is at the moment eighth within the WSL Championship Tour rankings however has returned to kind in latest occasions together with a third-place end at Western Australia’s Margaret River Professional final month. The 30-year-old was world champion in 2016 and 2017.
Picklum is at the moment the highest-ranked Australian lady in third place, after beginning the season as runner-up on the Lexus Pipe Professional then profitable the Hurley Professional Sundown Seaside. The 21-year-old is famend as an enormous wave rider and anticipated to be well-suited to the difficult break at Teahupo’o.
“To be chosen on the Australian Olympic crew is an honour,” Picklum stated. “As soon as I put this shirt on and speak about it, it’s turning into actual. I nonetheless don’t assume I perceive the complete affect.
“Tahiti is a reasonably scary wave. Our browsing crew is admittedly robust and this crew is good for this location – the boys and Tyler are such good barrel riders, and this wave is all about barrel driving.”
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The Teahupo’o venue will make Olympic historical past because the furthest distance an occasion has been held away from the host metropolis. Robinson already is aware of what it takes to succeed at Teahupo’o after profitable the Tahiti Professional there final yr.
The West Australian is second on the WSL Championship Tour rankings after victories at Margaret River and Sundown Seaside. The USA’ Griffin Colapinto holds a slender lead over Robinson, with Ewing fourth after ending as runner-up final yr.
“After I acquired chosen it was a dream. Representing the Irukandjis, simply actually proud to symbolize your nation,” Robinson stated. “Teahupo’o is the heaviest wave on the earth. It’s so gnarly, you simply should respect the wave each time you exit. It was actually inspiring watching Owen, I simply need to get to the Olympics first, as soon as we’re there it would all unfold.”
