No stranger to adversity and overcoming unexpected challenges, Olympic Sailor Tess Lloyd recently penned a letter to Australian Year 12 Students as a message of support to all those in lockdown.

I'm reaching out because much like me trying to compete at the Tokyo Games, your year 12 is filled with uncertainty and unforeseen challenges due to Covid-19.

Things just aren't going the way we planned, and while your teachers, families and the government are doing all they can to keep school as normal as possible, it doesn't stop us all from feeling a little wobbly at times and isolated from our friends and what is normal.

Tess waves for the camera on her first day of Olympic racing

Hey, I know what it's like. When I was your age, I was involved in a serious sailing accident, one which turned my life upside down and altered my plans for year 12.

I'll save you the gory details, but in short: our boat was hit by a windsurfer, my crewmate pulled me from the water unconscious, I was taken to hospital – things were pretty dire – I underwent brain surgery, had nine screws and plates put in my head and was put into a medically induced coma.

After the accident I had to learn to walk, talk and sail again. I ended up having to do my year 12 over two years, so while all my friends had graduated, I was still left studying. Not fun. As you can imagine, this brought with it great uncertainty.

It was a tough time. So much uncertainty made me questions myself – it got me down from time to time.

You are living through historic times, we are all, and while there is uncertainty, I know from my experiences that great things can come from adversity.

Tess helms the 49erFX at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Crewed by Jaime Ryan 

Would I be the athlete I am today without the accident that changed my Year 12? Would I have achieved my childhood dream, and would it have been as special, if I hadn't gone through what I did?

I don't know, but what I do know, is we all have greatness in us. We are all tougher than we imagined, and I want to encourage you to embrace adversity and adapt in times of uncertainty.

I have no doubt you all will be incredibly successful in all you do, but as you live through the day to day, remember you are sharing the journey.

Adversity adds to the triumph and brings out courage we never imagined we had. 

Tess Lloyd, Australian Olympic Sailor via Olympics.com

Photos: World Sailing/ Sailing Energy