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
In The News – July 7th
Equestrian – Spruce Meadows, Canada Daniel Coyle Won the $1 million ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup, producing two flawless rounds with Incredible and winning the jump-off in 35.21 seconds. He edged out USA’s Kyle King by just 0.08 seconds to take his first-ever 5★ Grand Prix win at Spruce Meadows. “It only took 10 years,” Coyle [...]
Sport Events Coming up in July
We are at the start of a jam packed July, check here for information on the upcoming events? DATES EVENT (SPORT) 27 June – 6 July EQUESTRIAN Team Ireland – World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen – Aachen, Germany LINK 28-29 June ATHLETICS Team Ireland – European Athletics Team Championships Division 2 – Maribor, Slovenia LINK [...]
In The News – May 26th
Team Ireland Round-Up | Medals, Records, and Milestones Across Europe and the U.S. ATHLETICS | Gidey’s Breakthrough, Healy Shines, English and Coscoran Impress Efrem Gidey made history on Saturday evening in Pacé, France, becoming the first Irish athlete to win individual gold at the European 10,000m Cup. The 24-year-old surged ahead with just over [...]
In The News – May 12th
Equestrian: Austin O'Connor Achieves Podium Finish at Badminton Horse Trials Four time Olympian Austin O'Connor delivered one of his finest performances to date at the prestigious 2025 Badminton Horse Trials, finishing third overall aboard his long-time partner Colorado Blue. After a modest start in the dressage phase, where he placed 20th, O'Connor surged through the [...]
Irish eventers win Boekelo Nations Cup in stunning style
Albert’s crew excel in show jumping to blow elite field away Dag Albert has hailed a fantastic team effort in testing conditions after the Agria Irish Eventing Team blitzed an elite field to win the four-star FEI Eventing Nations Cup at Boekelo today. Albert’s squad of Aoife Clark on Sportsfield Freelance, Susie Berry on the [...]
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, [...]