Now living in Cornwall, she still surfs, films and occasionally competes, but on her own terms. Last year she entered the English Nationals with no expectations and won, a result she says showed how damaging pressure had become.
“I thought it’d be nice to go down to see the community and surf some heats, have some fun. I was over the moon about winning, but I think it does just show what happens if you do sport for the love of it and in a way that is sustainable for your body.”
She has also begun speaking openly about burnout, keen to help others avoid the same experience.
“The more people I talk to, the more I realise how common this is, not just in sport,” she said. “If speaking about it helps one other person spot the signs early, it is worth it.”
Her advice to young surfers: “Treat surfing like a job if you want it to become one,” she said. “But you also have to switch off. It is not lazy to rest. Rest is part of training.”
Overlooking the beach where it all began, Campbell says stepping away from competition helped her rediscover what mattered most.
“The thing I noticed the most when I was going through burnout is that I’ve always just loved getting in the ocean every day and I’m so grateful that that’s my job.
“Losing your love for the sport is the biggest warning sign,” she said. “Listening to my body saved my relationship with surfing.”