Aussie surfing world champion Tyler Wright reveals why she’s over the moon about having seven screws inserted into her head

Two-time world surfing champion Tyler Wright will head to the Paris Olympics later this year on cloud nine after having seven screws inserted into her head to treat a serious health issue.

Wright, 29, made surprising revelations about his off-season operation, which will significantly help his breathing, after reaching the quarter-finals at the Rip Curl Pro in Portugal.

Medical battles have been a constant for Wright throughout his career since he announced himself to the surfing world by winning the Beachley Classic at North Steyne on Sydney’s northern beaches in 2008, when he was just 14 years old.

Wright suffered a debilitating bout of post-viral syndrome that left her bedridden in 2018, but she returned to the professional tour and finished third at the 2023 world championships.

She also suffered intense period pain that led to her being hospitalized at one point last year.

In ominous news for his rivals, Wright is confident he will now be able to take his surfing to new heights after extensive tests and scans finally revealed he had a serious airway problem, which was treated with screws.

Incredibly, Wright was able to continue competing despite the condition often leaving her “poorly oxygenated and semi-asphyxiated.”

“Many doctors and specialists have told me that they don’t know how I do what I do,” he said.

‘I shouldn’t be able to do what I do, based on my brain scans and my anatomy.

‘It’s really unusual for me to be a professional surfer competing with the airway issue.

“Through one of the specialists we ended up finding out that I’m underoxygenated most of the time and I suffocate all the time through my nose, and my airways are very small.”

Wright explained that the screws were inserted as part of a maxillary palatal expander, a device that widens the mouth.

“I basically have seven screws in the head, between nine and 17 mm (in length) and in the off-season I enlarged them,” he said.

“It basically broke the bone and I got 7mm (extra airway space) through it.”

Wright won back-to-back WSL titles in 2016 and 2017 before a 14-month layoff as she battled chronic fatigue and emotional breakdowns.

In July he will go for Olympic gold when surfing makes its debut at the Games.

But with limited swell in Paris, the famous venue is Teahupo’o in Tahiti.

“Honestly, (the surgery) has been life-changing, it’s the sanest I’ve ever felt,” Wright said.

‘I have to work in a new system, 13 years in it is disconcerting and leaves me a little confused. But I’m working on it and I have great support and great doctors.

“It’s been really successful and changing my life, but it’s also a multi-step process.”