By Allie Lyndon
She hasn’t just found the light at the end of the tunnel; she’s reached it, grabbed it with both hands and is projecting it across all areas of her life!
Since undergoing an Arthroscopic Bankart Repair, also known as shoulder stabilisation surgery, Race One’s Emily Doyle had been on a bumpy road to recovery. Facing 5 months out of the surf, 8 weeks out of the pool and 6 weeks with strictly no running, Em is now on the rise with a new perspective and an essence of gratitude.
“Overcoming surgery along with the rehab process, the journey has taught me invaluable lessons,” she said.
“Coming back from injury has shifted the way I view sport and life!”
Given the green light to line up at the World Ocean Series Hayden Kenny Classic just days before the series kicked off, Em walked off Northcliffe Beach with mixed emotions.
“After completing an Iron session, the week of the Hayden Kenny Classic, I realised that I was capable of more than I thought,” she said excitedly.
“I was walking my Race One gear back to the shed and told myself ‘I can do this’! That session was a turning point for me and my confidence”.
Despite facing the inevitable fate – that she wasn’t going to be as fit or as fast as she once was, Em lined up to open her summer series a completely different athlete than she had been in the past; she lined up an even better athlete, a happier athlete.
“I raced two rounds of the Iron and six ski races, filled with gratitude for my body and everything it had overcome.
“There were no expectations – just pure joy for being back out there!”
Shining her light in darker places, it wasn’t as easy as undergoing the operation, resting, recovering and now racing.
Like many individuals both in and out of the water, Emily found herself facing mental struggles throughout her time absent from her sport, our sport, her community, our community.
“There has been plenty of tears, frustration, many meltdowns and a lot of ‘what ifs, but I persevered and came out the other side,” Em shared honestly.
“I certainly faced some mental battles and made sure to speak to friends who had been in similar situations – I even started to see a Sport Psychologist.
“Things began to get easier as time went on, and I had an amazing support network to guide me through it all, I am extremely grateful for the people in my life that stood by me through the last 6 months, it’s been the toughest yet most rewarding 6 months of my life!”
Our sport has us either submerged in water, gliding through it or paddling on top of it.
There is something unique about surf sports.
Perhaps it’s the daily salt water on our skin, perhaps it’s the sunshine rays that start our day.
Maybe it is simply the opportunity to wash off the stresses that life delivers, leaving our worries in the waves – whatever it is, it’s special, and when that is taken from us, we must learn how to carry these worries through our day to day life.
For Em, her time away from the water allowed her to shift her perspective on things.
It allowed her to appreciate the body she has and its ability to swim, paddle, run and race.
It delivered her the opportunity to gain resilience.
It enabled her to grow stronger; both physically and mentally.
It forced a growth within herself to better her life.
“Sport will always be there,” she said.
“I am back training and racing with a greater appreciation for my body and what it can do, and I believe I have become more resilient, both physically and mentally,” she said smiling.
“I now have a different mindset when I approach my training and racing, I have learnt to listen to my body, to take the time to rest when it is needed.
“Reflecting on what I have been able to do since my operation, I am just so happy to be back doing what I love.”
Continuing to chase her dreams in Surf Sports, Race One’s Emily Doyle will line up this summer; lighting up the beach with her happiness, projecting positivity to our youth and her fellow athletes, all while growing in all areas of her own life!