Tokyo Olympics: Owen Wright’s UFC mate Luke Rockhold helping surfer prepare

Australian surfers are backing themselves for success in Tokyo and one has an American UFC star turned model in his corner helping hone his fighting spirit in the battle for medals.

Owen Wright is well known as a big wave surfer after winning the 2019 Tahiti Pro at Teahupo'o but is unlikely to get these conditions at the Tokyo Olympics

He’s a mild mannered surfing super hero who has come back from a horrific wipeout and life-threatening brain injury to be on the Tokyo Olympic team.

Backed by famous surfing siblings Tyler and Mikey, wife Kita and two children, Owen Wright also has an unlikely ally in his corner.

Wright, training in the US before his departure for Tokyo, has forged a close relationships with UFC fighter, surfer skateboarder and model Luke Rockhold while preparing for the Games.

Luke Rockhold when in Australia to fight Robert Whittaker.

Luke Rockhold in UFC fight mode.

“I’m getting ready for a fight myself, which is the Olympics,” said Wright when quizzed about the relationship with the American.

A former UFC middleweight champion and Ralph Lauren model, Rockhold is working on his own return to the octagon while Wright and his Australian teammates are hoping to deliver a knock out punch to rivals in Japan.

“Aussies are typically known for their fighting spirit. I’ve been trying to understand that fighting spirit that he has, and what he puts himself through to get in that ring,” said the Lennox Head surfer who hails from the NSW south coast town of Culburra.

“They step into the boxing ring every day and are throwing kicks and punches. It’s full on. I feel like I’m learning a lot, just to get into that headspace.

“The training is intense, but I like the mentality side of it where the Olympics is one shot, and you don’t get another shot for four years.

“This concept is new to surfing, and that’s the excitement for us. I just want to be the best prepared to go in and give it my all.”

Owen Wright will be in Tokyo with Julian Wilson, Sally Fitzgibbons and Stephanie Gilmore.

And while they don’t know if they will be able to swap their boardie for blazers to march at the Olympics or even if crowds will be able to watch them at Chiba, around 100km from Tokyo where surfing will be run, teammates Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons have a party line when it comes to favourites at the Games.

“Aussie domination is my prediction,” said Sally Fitzgibbons, who joined with Wright to talk with the media on Friday via Zoom.

Wright picked out teammate Julian Wilson for some special attention – “I reckon Jules is looking deadly” – while also backing Fitzgibbons and seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore for success.

Julian Wilson has been preparing for the Games at Coolum in Queensland

Wilson, from Newcastle, has been out of the limelight for some time, working on his small wave manoeuvres for Tokyo where Wright said he is expecting just 1-2m of swell.

Gilmore is also in the US and has also been keeping a low profile ahead of the Games.

Surfing is one of four new sports on the Olympic program this month.

The competition will be contested by 20 men and 20 women who will surf 30 minutes heats.

Opening heats will be four-person battles but will become two-person dogfights from round

Originally published as Tokyo Olympics: Owen Wright’s UFC mate Luke Rockhold helping surfer prepare