Austin O’Connor
Equestrian
BIOGRAPHY
Austin is competing in his fourth Olympic Games in Paris. He and his Olympic partner from Tokyo had a sensational year in 2023 when he was the first Irish rider in 40 years (since Jessica Harrington) to make the podium in Badminton. He then went on to win the prestigious CC15* in Maryland; the first five-star victory by an Irish rider since 1965. This year he was part of the team that finished fifth at World Championships in Italy to clinch the spot in Paris. Austin represented Ireland at the 2000 (17th), 2008 (21st), and 2020 Olympic Games. He was only 13 when he completed the two-star in Punchestown, and went to England when he was 19. He set up his own yard two years later and is currently based in the Attington Stud in Oxfordshire. He was the reserve for the Tokyo Olympics and replaced Cathal Daniels who had to withdraw his horse on veterinary reasons, yet he and Colorado Blue were 13th; his best Olympic result so far.
OTHER EQUESTRIAN ATHLETES
EQUESTRIAN NEWS
DAY 11 MORNING REPORT FROM TEAM IRELAND
Team Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam with James Kann Cruz, and Daniel Coyle with Legacy, both missed out on the medal jump-off in the show jumping final at the Palace of Versailles this morning. Running a brilliant PB Sophie O’Sullivan narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 1500m semi-finals by just one spot, finishing 7th in her heat, [...]
2024 OLYMPIC GAMES – DAY 3 AFTERNOON REPORT FROM TEAM IRELAND
In Canoe Slalom double Olympian Liam Jegou put in an incredible run in the semi-final of the Men’s C1 to reach his first Olympic final an hour later where he placed an amazing seventh overall. Defending lightweight champion Kellie Harrington impressively defeated Italian Alessia Mesiano in the last 16 to advance to the quarter-finals on Wednesday evening (31st July). Her [...]
DAY 3 MORNING REPORT FROM TEAM IRELAND | PARIS 2024
Reigning world champion Daniel Wiffen eased his way into tomorrow night’s 800m Freestyle final qualifying fastest of all eight swimmers in a time of 7:41.53. Team mate Ellen Walshe booked her spot in her first Olympic final tonight; her favoured event the women’s 400m Individual Medley by finishing fourth in her heat. Second time Olympian Danielle Hill [...]
AFTERNOON REPORT ON DAY TWO FROM TEAM IRELAND
On the water in Marseilles Sailors Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove impressed to win the third of their 12 qualifying races in the Skiff this afternoon, having earlier placed fourth in the second race. In boxing Offaly welterweight (66kg) Grainne Walsh was beaten by Hungarian opponent Anna Luca Hamori in the preliminaries this afternoon 4-1.The first ever Irish Women’s Rugby Sevens team at an [...]
MORNING REPORT ON DAY TWO FROM TEAM IRELAND
Three of the five Irish boats in action this morning, including reigning Olympic champions Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan, qualified directly through to the semi-finals of their respective events, with the women’s lightweight double qualifying for the repechage tomorrow where they will have a second chance to secure a semi-final spot, and the women’s four [...]
TEAM IRELAND TO FEATURE IN TEN SPORTS ON OPENING DAY OF PARIS 2024
Day one of Paris 2024 is set to be a bumper one for Team Ireland as athletes from no less than ten sports will get their Olympic campaigns underway; Eventing (Dressage), Hockey, Swimming, Rowing, Canoe Slalom, Road Cycling, Boxing, Badminton, Gymnastics, and the Men’s Rugby Sevens team return to the pitch. Equestrian The Irish [...]