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
Seven Riders named across Eventing, Showjumping and Dressage for Paris 2024
The Olympic Federation of Ireland has officially selected the equestrian team who are set to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. Team Ireland will be represented by a showjumping team, an eventing team, and individual dressage at the Games, with competition taking place on the grounds of the Versailles Palace. The eventing [...]
Performance Round Up – March
Catch up on the latest results of Team Ireland athletes throughout the month of March. Jack Woolley Qualifies in Taekwondo For Paris 2024 Three years on from the delayed Tokyo Games, where he became Ireland’s first participant in any Olympic taekwondo event, Woolley has again sealed his place in the 58kg division. Jude Gallagher adds [...]
Weekend Recap | Rugby, Athletics, Show Jumping
Ireland dominate to win fifth Wellington CSIO4* Nations Cup The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping team won a fifth CSIO4* Wellington International Nations Cup after an utterly dominant performance at the Florida venue overnight. Michael Blake’s team of Darragh Kenny on Eddy Blue, David O’Brien on El Balou Old, Shane Sweetnam on RR Combella and [...]
Bernard Jackman Appointed Acting Head of Sport at HSI
JACKMAN APPOINTED ACTING HEAD OF SPORT AT HSI Former Ireland rugby international to oversee high performance programme in run-up to Paris Olympics Bernard Jackman has been appointed Acting Head of High Performance Sport at Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in Paris. The former Ireland rugby union international, who won a […]
Ireland win team silver at FEI European Championship
The Irish Senior Show Jumping team moved up the leader board in Milano to finish second The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping team delivered an excellent performance to claim the silver medal in the team final of the FEI Jumping European Championship in Milano, Italy, this afternoon, Friday 1st of September. Michael Blake’s quartet of Michael [...]
Irish Eventing team secure Olympic qualification with superb performance at World Championships
A fantastic performance from the Irish Eventing team of Sam Watson, Padraig McCarthy, Susie Berry and Austin O’Connor, managed by Dag Albert at the FEI Eventing World Championships in Pratoni, Italy, has secured Olympic qualification for the Irish team for Paris 2024. A fifth place finish following today’s final Show Jumping phase saw Ireland take one of the seven coveted Olympic […]