Tennis star Storm Hunter reveals Olympic diver who is inspiring her recovery from achilles surgery
Australian doubles tennis star Storm Hunter has revealed the Olympic diver inspiring her recovery from Achilles surgery, and how she’s going to feel watching the Paris Olympics from afar.
Australian tennis star Storm Hunter has revealed the Olympic diver inspiring her recovery from a ruptured achilles, which crushed her own dreams of competing at the Paris Games.
Hunter has detailed her close friendship with Australian diver Anabelle Smith, who recovered from an achilles injury to book a ticket to her fourth Olympic Games.
After reaching the high of reaching world No.1 in doubles at the end of 2023, Hunter was left devastated when she suffered the same injury earlier this year.
The injury could not have happened at a more cruel time for Hunter, who had set her sights on chasing a medal at the Paris Games after a career-best year and best singles result at the Australian Open when she reached the third round.
Hunter revealed Smith was the first person that she contacted when it was confirmed she had ruptured her achilles and would face up to 12 months on the sidelines.
The pair had initially struck up a friendship via social media, but hit it off when they first met in person at the end of last year and Smith has been an “amazing” support for Hunter since suffering her injury.
“I had always followed her career and obviously she had ruptured her achilles at the end of 2022 and I followed that journey,” Hunter said.
“We’d always just messaged each other on Instagram and then actually at the end of last year we met at an athlete Olympic Committee meeting in Sydney … and talked about our careers and got along really well.
“Then when I ended up rupturing my achilles, she was the first person I spoke to when I found out, before I had even announced it.
“From there she has been honestly amazing. She’s constantly reached out, we’ve caught up a couple of times, among her busy Olympic schedule. She’s obviously travelled a lot this year, but every time she’s come home, she’s been the first person to reach out and say, ‘Hey, do you want to catch up or how are you going?’
“She’s been such an amazing person. Athletes in general can be quite selfish, but she’s been so selfless in the sense that anytime I’ve had a question she’s got back to me straight away …. she’s just been super supportive.”
As she pressed on with her rehabilitation, Hunter said Smith’s advice had been priceless, with the Melbourne diver having recovered from her injury in 18 months to become just the fourth Australian diver to compete at four Games.
Smith will compete in the 3m synchronised diving with Maddison Keeney in Paris.
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unter said Smith’s advice about maintaining patience and trusting her body had already helped her through difficult sessions and her friend’s Games’ bid was inspiring her own push to get back on the court.
“It’s an incredible inspiration because obviously the achilles rupture, generally, in the past has been seen as a bit of a career-threatening injury,” Hunter said.
“You never know how someone’s going to come back, especially in a sport where you need to be able to jump off with agility and stuff.
“I think she’s kind of proven that you cannot just come back, but you can be better than before and that’s been super inspirational for me.”
Paying it forward, Hunter herself reached out to Australian gymnastics star Georgia Godwin, who also had her Paris dream crushed after injuring her achilles.
“When I heard that she had also ruptured hers, she was a few weeks after me, I messaged her … I was heartbroken for her so I just wanted to reach out,” Hunter said.
“It’s a bit hard for us right now, but we can message each other and we’re kind of going through it together.
“It’s a tough time for athletes that are either injured or missed out on selection as well, so it’s not nice to be one of those athletes but it helps you have a bit of perspective and appreciate the journey in a different way.”
As she continues her rehabilitation at home, Hunter admitted she would find it hard watching the tennis at the Paris Olympics from afar.
“Definitely with the tennis it’s mixed emotions,” said Hunter, who’s recovery is on schedule 14-weeks post-surgery.
“Even now the excitement leading up, in one way it’s nice because I can remember those feelings in Tokyo like they were yesterday. Feeling those nerves and the excitement and buzz about being in the village.
“But at the same time, it’s pretty heartbreaking. It’s definitely not an easy time at the moment that I’m just trying to focus on myself and what I can control.
“I think actually once the tennis starts, the actual Olympic Games starts, I think I’ll be really excited to watch because I love watching sport, especially Australians in sport and using that as inspiration for me.”
And she will be definitely cheering Smith on from her living room.
“I am super excited and pumped for her,” Hunter said.
“I have only known her in the later part of her journey, but even just going through this (injury) and knowing how hard it must have been for her to go through it as well not sure if she was going to come back to diving.
“But to come back and be on the Olympic team for the fourth time is very special for her and I can’t wait to watch.”
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