Hannah Dines bounces back from Tokyo disappointment with surfing career

Surfing star Hannah Dines transformed Tokyo turmoil into a new life riding the waves. Former cyclist Dines, 29, competed at the Rio 2016 Paralympics but was left out of the squad for the Tokyo Paralympics and instead found herself as a pundit on Channel 4. Ad Initially unsure of what direction to take her career in, the Glasgow ace decided to try a watersport after time competing on land as a cyclist and previously a runner.

SurfingWatch as Toledo wins Hurley Pro Sunset Beach with stunning effort in World Surf League20/02/2023 AT 11:40 And after stumbling upon surfing, Dines immediately forged an unbreakable connection with the sport. «I was really fit as I'd been training up until Tokyo hoping I'd make it,» said Dines. «But I was like I need to do something else that will use my fitness and take my mind off the disappointment of not achieving the ultimate goal.

»I went to Wales where there's the only full-time disabled surf team in the world — Surfability. I phoned them up and they invited me to have a go on a surfboard. I loved it so much — but there wasn't much accommodation, and they said: 'Can you sleep in your car? We'll let you surf as much as you want.' «So I slept in my car and I just went over and over.

It was just the best experience ever for around two months, and I realised that it was really something. Then they mentioned that there was a World Championships in this sport, and said that I could be good enough to go. »Of course, I did go in the end.