Owen Wright’s Olympic bronze medal the ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ for brain injury sufferers

Lennox Head surfer Owen Wright speaks candidly about his recovery from a traumatic brain injury in the wake of his bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics a week ago.

ICHINOMIYA, JAPAN: Lennox head surfer Owen Wright celebrates his bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Olivier Morin - Pool/Getty Images)

Lennox Head surfer Owen Wright has spoken out about his recovery from a traumatic brain injury in the wake of his bronze medal win at the Tokyo Olympics a week ago.

The 31 year old father of two, is married to pop singer Kita Alexander.

Wright claimed bronze in the men’s shortboard competition last Tuesday sparking wild celebrations on the beach.

Owen Wright celebrates winning his men's bronze medal match against Gabriel Medina of Brazil. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

But he’s been in a reflective mood since then, posting on Instagram that he hoped his run at the Olympics would help inspire other brain injury sufferers.

It must be remembered that in 2015 he suffered from blood effusion in the brain after he was wiped out on a wave at Hawaii’s famous Pipeline break.

He was closely monitored in hospital for three weeks and suffered from an inability to walk, slowed speech, anxiety, adrenaline outburst, headaches and a variety of other symptoms, including disorientation.

The main challenge the giant surfer faced was that he couldn’t make his brain remember even basic functions, such as walking, let alone getting back into the surf.

Fast forward to Japan six years later and you can see why his Olympic bronze medal means so much to Wright.

“To anyone out there that has suffered a traumatic brain injury or something that’s reduced them to their most raw vulnerable form, I hope this can inspire you to never lose that light at the end of the tunnel,” he posted on Instagram.

“There were moments I doubted I would ever get back to full capacity and moments where I had great results but was still suffering silently.

“I want to inspire you to be vulnerable enough to ask for help to get the answers you need and to never give up on the dreams you once had.”

His post prompted thousands of comments from around the world, but the most special belonged to his partner, Kita Alexander.

At home with Kita Alexander and one of his two children. Picture: Instagram

“What you’ve achieved isn’t a miracle, it has been dedication, blood, sweat and tears,” she said.

“You have worked harder than anyone I know.

“No matter how many times you fell down, you got back up, every single time.

“I’ve realised that I could never be half the human you are and I don’t know anyone else who could do what you’ve done wihtout giving up.”

The popular surfer beat Brazil’s Gabriel Medina in the cut throat bronze medal semi-final last week in Japan.