LLOYD Tess

General
LIFE-THREATENING INJURY
A 2012 head injury that required brain surgery and left her in an induced coma nearly ended her sporting career. However, she defied the expectations of doctors and recovered enough to return to the water three months after the accident, sailing with a helmet to help prevent future injury. Despite having to learn to walk and talk again, she says she never forgot how to sail. "The last thing I remember was talking to mother before the race. It [sailing] came back to me a lot easier than other things. The most challenging thing was my speech. Sometimes I might say the wrong word, but it's mostly fine now. I finished my final year of school over two years and did only three subjects the first year. After a brain injury you are quite tired. But on the water, everything is just perfect. Sailing is something I wanted in my life. Sometimes when I'm on the water I think about that day [of the accident]. But I'm so glad that I didn't listen to the doctors." (dailytelegraph.com.au, 01 May 2016; news.com.au, 12 Dec 2014; smh.com.au, 09 Dec 2013; smh.com.au, 27 Feb 2020)

PARTNERSHIP
She first partnered with her crewmate Jaime Ryan in the 49erFX class in 2018. Ryan competed in the 470 class at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "Jaime and I clicked. She brings so much to the team from Rio, and she has so much maturity and experience. In the moment, when we're on the boat, I can't explain it, the communication's flowing, decisions are made instinctively, it all comes together. In the middle of the chaos there's no double guessing, it feels natural." (sailing.org, 27 Feb 2020)