Sally Fitzgibbons’ emotional reaction as Olympic campaign ends

If you didn’t know how much competing in the Olympics means, you only need to watch Sally Fitzgibbons after her campaign was cut short.

A courageous Sally Fitzgibbons fought back tears as she spoke of the heartbreak following her quarterfinal exit to Japan’s Amuro Tsuzuki on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s so raw and real and you get the beauty of, probably, listening to the heart shattering even from where you’re standing,” said Fitzgibbons, through tears.

“It’s the hardest loss you’ll ever have to deal with when you’ve got this flag on your board and your teammates on the sand and (pauses) your family back home.

“But you’ve just got to pick yourself back up, and that’s why we love sport. I’m still having the best time, even in tears – it’s what we love about it”

Sally Fitzgibbons in tears after her campaign ended

The Aussie traded two-section waves with Tsuzuki in the quarters but it was the Japanese competitor’s cleaner exits that proved the difference in scoring.

Fitzgibbons, 30, is an ever-present light on the WSL championship tour but her beaming smile understandably wavered as she spoke of the shock of losing so close to the medal placings.

“Today almost feels like the first time you lost in the title race,” she said.

“It’s a new experience to the body … it’s such a shock to the system.

“You know what losing is about and the perspective and why you’re here. You know those 30 minutes don’t define you or your body of work, but you just hope that the planets align and it can happen.”

The Aussie star, who remains firmly entrenched in the CT title race, said she would use the loss as fuel for a run at the world championship crown that has so far eluded her.

Sally Fitzgibbons is a ripper.
She dreamed of this stage, and while she's hurting now, nothing can take away the fact she's part of the first Aussie team to surf at an Olympics.
🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺🦘 pic.twitter.com/xihk0CTPJ9

— Jacqui Reed (@JacquiReed_) July 27, 2021

“I guess I’m one step closer and stronger to a world title after this experience,” Fitzgibbons said.

“I’ll go to Mexico, try to win there, then go to Tahiti – that’s new too – and try to win that, then win a world title.

“If it doesn’t happen, I’ll still be smiling.”

Just as fellow Aussie Steph Gilmore declared a day earlier after her shock Olympics exit, Fitzgibbons promised to push for Paris 2024.

Sally’s disappointment was heartbreaking.

“Every volunteer, every person that sacrificed in Tokyo and Japan to have us here, to allow us to go ride the waves and live out a childhood dream, (thank you),” she said.

“It just feels like something bigger than yourself.

“To get to the start line was the first gold medal. It wasn’t a gold medal today – or a medal at all – but it’s definitely created the hunger to come back in 2024.

“(Paris) is close – close enough. Let’s do it.

“There’s so many Aussies that could represent us and I sure hope it’s me, but we have such a strong future of young surfers now at home and they’re coming into their prime, too.

“When you think of Paris, watch out, the Aussies are definitely coming.”

It means Australia has just one medal hope remaining with Owen Wright the sole surviving Aussie in the surfing

Wright is up against Brazilian Italo Ferreira at 1.24pm AEST for a place in the gold medal match.

WRIGHT ON CUSP OF HISTORIC OLYMPIC MEDAL

Owen Wright will surf for a medal on Tuesday afternoon after successfully seeing off Peruvian rival Lucca Mesinas in the quarterfinals at Tsurigasaki Beach.

Wright, 31, continued his good form from Monday’s afternoon session, producing scores of 6.67 and 6.07 to progress through to a semi-final match-up with Brazilian Italo Ferreira.

The Aussie needed just three waves to progress against Mesinas, after dominating Monday’s round of 16 heat in just four waves.

“It just plays out that way,” Wright said.

“I get my scores on the board then apply pressure to the other guy and take his best wave … I’ll keep doing that.”

Earlier, Ferreira produced the highest heat score of the Olympics (16.30) to knock out Japan’s Hiroto Ohhara, including an incredible aerial that drew a near-perfect 9.73 from the judges.

Wright’s world-class backhand surfing pit against the Brazilian’s thrilling aerial manoeuvres looms as a clash of old versus new surfing.

“I’ve got a good match-up coming up,” Wright said.

“I’ve got some good turns in the bag (now) and I’ll apply some pressure. (Ferreira) has to stick those airs if he wants to go for them and, if not, I can match him on the face (of the wave).”

The winner of the Wright/Ferreira semi-final at 1.24pm AEST will progress through to the gold medal match-up and the loser relegated to the bronze medal playoff.

“I’ve got the opportunity to surf for a medal in the final or challenge for a bronze. Either way I’m challenging for (a medal) and it feels great,” Wright said.

Fellow Aussie Sally Fitzgibbons will surf her quarterfinal at 12.12pm AEST against Amuro Tsuzuki of Japan for a place in the women’s semi-finals.

Originally published as Sally Fitzgibbons’ emotional reaction as Olympic campaign ends