Old Mate Connor Becomes O'Leary-San
There’s a video floating around the backwoods of the internet that features Connor O’Leary at the 2013 ISA China Cup saying how much representing Australia means to him. He’s not exactly gushing, Connor was only 19 at the time, hadn’t quite escaped his teenage self-conscious period, yet the patriotic sentiment was clear enough. I’d embed the video here except my better self warned me against it. In fact, my better self warned me against writing this article. I should’ve listened, yet here we are.
O’Leary, you may be aware, will now surf for Japan in this year’s Olympic Games. Raised in Cronulla with a Japanese mother and an Australian father of Irish heritage, O’Leary is the likable poster boy for multicultural Australia. A melange of cultures in a second-rower’s body: tight waist, broad shoulders, and an even broader Aussie accent.
Connor wears a commonwealth blue ensign on one shoulder, rising sun on the other, and we're sure there's a 2230 postcode tattooed under there somewhere
The process to surf for Japan began last June and formally ended this week. O’Leary will join another Championship Tour surfer with dual citizenship, Kanoa Igarashi, plus Reo Inaba and Shino Matsuda to represent the land of the rising sun in four months time. The two male appointments have caused murmurs both above and below the line
Is the skepticism warranted?
If you think it is, then let’s lay it out bare. In 2018, O’Leary attended an ‘Olympic Readiness Camp’, arranged by Surfing Australia to prepare the coming Olympians for the inaugural surfing event in Tokyo. O’Leary failed to make the cut that time. If he had then there’s no doubt he would’ve been cheered on by Australia.
Now, however, and despite past home-country support, O’Leary is surfing for another country in what appears to be a Plan B.
In Igarashi’s case, his parents moved from Japan to the US with the explicit purpose of raising their child a competitive surfer - which they did, Kanoa’s been on the CT since 2016. Yet in a reversal of strategy deployed after missing the US Olympic team, Kanoa has now reverted to the place they left.
O’Leary and Igarashi are far from the first surfers to compete under a different flag than the one they were born under: Both Martin Potter and Wendy Botha relinquished South African citizenship for Australian, Pottz even spending time as a pom, supercoach Glenn Hall surfed for Ireland during his career, as did Joe and Terrence McNulty, the San Clemente-based brothers who took Ireland to a second-place finish at the 1996 World Big Wave Challenge at Todos Santos, finishing above the American team they didn’t make.
In fact, look beyond surfing and there’s a whole blackmarket economy of citizenship swapping, and it’s existed for as long as professional sport has. At the 1936 Winter Olympics, Great Britain won gold in ice hockey with 9 of the 13 players having grown up in Canada. More recently, at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, 16 of the 17 players in the Algerian team were born in France.
Lest we scowl from a distance, Australia also gets in on the action, offering political stability in exchange for raw talent and a sly boost up the medal tally. Think pole vaulter Tatiana Grigorieva or boxer Kostya Tzuyu, even Aussie Joe Bugner wasn't born an Aussie.
In four CTs at Teahupoo, Connor has registered three 9ths and a 17th, and with fewer CT-level surfers in the draw must rate his chances for medalling (WSL)
Already you can see there are a raft of reasons for surfing under a different flag. For Potter and Botha the switch was unashamedly political; they were competing on the pro tour at a time when South Africa was facing apartheid-induced sanctions. For many of the others, even the ones we ultimately cheer on, a cocked eyebrow is a common response. So it goes with Connor and Kanoa.
With an eye firmly on the pro athlete’s ego, Connor at least comes across as one of the more likable surfers on the tour. Last year he spoke to SBS about his upbringing and how his views have changed with age.
"I spent a lot of time as a kid, putting my Japanese heritage behind me to try and fit in with the Australian culture and fit in at school," said Connor who came of age when Cronulla was a by-word for racial intolerance.
"As I’ve grown older, I've matured and realised being multicultural is something so special. How cool is it to be Australian but also Japanese?"
Wonderful words, really, I’ve admiration for anyone growing up and discovering hidden corners of themselves, especially considering his mother Akemi was a national Japanese surf champion, so the bond to Japan is two-fold. He speaks fluent Japanese, often thrilling WSL interviewer AJ McCord with his precise delivery, and his exploration of heritage seems genuine.
And yet there’s also a part of me - the part that’s aware of the pro athlete’s mindset - that sees something else in his shift of allegiance: a determined athlete who’s found a second way to win.
Sure, Connor’s got a killer smile, disarming nature on land, probably tips buskers and lets old ladies cut in at the checkout, but let’s not fool ourselves, he didn’t become successful by ignoring his options.
Call it mixed motivations: Connor is the canny competitor that’s found a publicly acceptable way to double-dip. And the good news is the double-dipping goes both ways, at least for those of us not utterly beholden to nationalism. Sometimes we can cheer for the person, sometimes we can cheer for the flag on their sleeve.
// STU NETTLE
Comments
Pretty balanced Stu. Connor seems like a good bloke looking to make some money and have the best experiences the pro surfing life can give him while he can. I will cheer him on - unless it is against Jack or Ethan!
Been paddled over and around by this guy multiple times on the east coast of Australia
Rude in the water
No thanks
I've surfed in the same lineup as him quite a bit around LeBa and never had that experience.
I wish I could say the same
Been surfing solo in two different spots and he has shown up and hassled hard, deliberately trying to not make eye contact even when offered some banter
Might have had his comp head on - anyway once is forgivable, second time he's a cock, the times after that were then expected
I've surfed with him enough to be confident saying you're either making that up or have the wrong guy.
Might have changed his game
This was well before his Northern Rivers days
Im talking pre Tour, still living down south
All good
Enjoy
agreed, totem. dilmah's anecdote is for sure cap. i am marginally older than connor and grew up surfing around him (since he was a quikky-stickered grom) and he was always lovely, polite and a pleasure to surf around
Dilmah is just a hater man don't worry.
I think you may be confusing him with someone else. Even as a teen he was fairly respectful. I've surfed with him in the line-up quite a few times over the years living in the same area, and he has never been "that guy". What spots are you talking about?
Aside from that, switching "teams" is nothing new for professional athletes - you have to make a living while you can. I wish Connor success.
Both in the water and on land, I've found him to be nothing other than a gent.
Anytime I’ve been in the water with him, I’ve found Connor to be one of the best mannered of any of the pro surfers I’ve ever surfed with ??
Aside from Occy? Sorry couldn't resist.
I surfed my favourite spot with mates or solo & with just Occy and we shared the set waves.
The other goldcoast crew would turn up on mass and take over the line up, all day. No waves for me & my mates.
Its the crowds that drive people to devious acts of desperation.
Really? I surfed with him at Lennox beachies recently - he was chill as and super chatty with my grom
Connor worked for CSA Cronulla as a surf coach. I had Connor for lots of surf lessons. I couldn’t ask for a better coach. Always encouraging, humble, really nice guy. In free surfing he is polite even gives me a push on waves & called me on waves. Connor still has time to say hello & talk when back in Cronulla. Connor’s mum Akemi is like Connor always encouraging us girls in the surf. I have never been dropped in or snaked on waves by Connor or his family. Super nice family. I wish him all the best
Go Connnooor!!
One of the best ever from Cronulla. The whole family are great and fun to share the water with.
Well Connor should move to Japan and become the real Connor -san........seriously.......probably a nice bloke but don't bight the hand that fed ya. Where's the loyalty.
Just tells you the Olympic spirit is bullshit. He just wants to get a medal and surf Chopes with only a few people out.
"He just wants to get a medal and surf Chopes with only a few people out." shit, you've sold me, together with the fact that he loves his Japanese heritage, it's a no brainer.
NRL players do it for the World Cup, can’t make the Aussie team so play for great great great granny’s Country.
Same for the indigenous round, 1% qualify’s them.
Shows how ridiculous the whole Olympic circus can be. In that environment, good on him I guess.
Kinda taking the piss but at least he’s a legit contender. Dare say there will be a few country’s who can’t say the same.
There's some incredible Japanese citizens/surfers missing out on Olympic spots to Connor and Kanoa, maybe you could ask them how they feel about it?
Nothing personally against either, both rip, both seem like decent blokes but, correct me if I'm wrong, neither are Japanese citizens? I think if you are going to represent a country, you don't necessarily have to be born there, but I think you should be a citizen or at least be a permanent resident. Felt the same way as Eileen Gu competing for China. Born and raised in America but is an American citizen.
Ps- self-conscious.
Yep, my thoughts exactly @zen.
perfect and well said
Japan have 3 male qualification spots in the Olympics - one from the 2022 ISA Games with Kanoa winning the event, a second from the 2023 ISA Games with Kanoa placing highest from Asia and a third from Kanoa placing 14th in the 2023 WSL CT (Connor placed 11th but represented Australia the entire year).
A bit hard to blame Kanoa for taking one of the slots when he is the reason they have any participants.
Couldn't agree more, some poor genuine Japanese bloke (actually lives tbere) doesn't get the chance to represent his country, because an Aussie sniffs the breeze and has a change of heart around his nationality. I know they all do it and I know he is "Japanese" just feels cynical. Top bloke though by all accounts..
A couple of those Japanese Pipe chargers could have had a good medal chance at Chopes??
I saw Keito Matsuoka up here a month ago charging. Deffo a Chopes contender.
He's Japanese too.
?si=hwTvHf_f631k8aitI think any Australian conversations on Connor's decision are irrelevant...these guys are the people we should be asking...
Good call. Actually, I might ask a few of the blokes around here and see what their view is.
Zen, of the other Japanese you talk of, how many of them are currently on the CT, Challenge Series or even ISA that have the contest savvy and experience at Teahupoo that Connor and Kanoa have ?
Sure there are some great other Japanese surfers that may have a chance at Chopes but there is a process to qualify through contest channels and none of the others are as close to as credentialed as Connor of Kanoa, hence the Japanese Olympic Surfing Association picking who they have.
Maybe Connor and Kanoa are giving other Japanese surfers a road to follow ??
Well put Seal.
I'd like to hear what those responses are, Zen. Without knowing Japan the way you do, I'd guess there's also a degree of shrewdness in the NSA's decision to choose Connor. Success at the Olympics usually boosts domestic interest, opening up sponsorship opportunities, a rise in membership, and perhaps government largesse - the last one definitely the case in Australia.
Could well be that it's beneficial to both parties.
Also, I grew up in Cronulla through the 80s and 90s and saw Akemi's involvement in Japanese surfing, often hosting young pros and travellers, operating as a forward base for young Japanese with very little grasp of English. It may feel like he's just taking, but the family has also done a lot of giving.
A very true observation of the O’Leary clan Stu, as only a day or so ago, I saw Akemi is once again hosting Japanese surfers for the Newcastle and Central Coast comps which they have been doing for many years.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting their family on numerous occasions at comps and have only positive things to say about them.
Good read. Knew a few cricketers that married Canadians with the dream of a World Cup., which was next level, but at the end of the day they only had eyes for one track.
I’d think anyone whose dream is to be the best in the world would take Connor’s path if it was available to them. Plus imagine the support and joy he’d have coming from his mums fam.
Surprised the GOAT hasn’t found a relo from Cayman Islands.
Haha
Can you imagine the GOAT surfing for a country other than USA.
And even better, winning gold?
Reckon he'd lose a stack of US fans.
Syrian dad yer? There you go, Slater wins gold for Syria!
C'mon Connor, bring us home a medal, we don't care what flag you had to wear.
Gold, Silver & Bronze - dare to dream ozstralya
If men can now compete in many women's sports simply by "identifying" as a woman it would seem dual nationals picking either of their countries at will shouldn't be much of a drama.
I’m nominating this for the saddest, most butt-hurt comment of the year.
100% @Batfink. Let it go squeezer, it's a non-issue
I reckon if he speaks the language, has spent time there he should do it if it's beneficial for him. Japan is a weird one because I'm not sure how keen they are to half castes.
My kid is half Aussie, speaks his mother's tongue and has and will spend more time in her country/other countries with the same culture. If he was in the same position I'd say go for it! Get the bread while you can. Better than getting a real job!
We are looking at this from a sporting / patriotic point of view .
For Connor its a profession , a career .
And how many of us bend the rules , seek out advantage , try to get an edge what ever you want to call it , in our profession / workplace
pretty much everyone really .........
Perfectly put Sheep!
And it seems to be a long way between pay days in surfing at the moment so agree. Great surfer but is never going to be world champ so get in for your chop while you can.
Yes, particularly with the surf industry in the state that it's in currently.
Doing well in the Olympics is probably the best way that a professional surfer can maximise the 'professional' part of their job title.
Half the socceroos have Scottish accents, one had never been to Australia.
For me it's like the rugby league world cup, letting guys that didn't quite make it for first tier countries play for second tier countries has massively improved the spectacle.
From The Guardian on Wednesday, he said “Living in Cronulla as a kid, there wasn’t much culture around – it was very Australian-dominant. Being half-Japanese, I didn’t want to be put in the limelight and be bullied for looking different or doing something different. Being a shy kid, I just wanted to fit in.”
At home he was clearly raised with Japanese culture being very important to the family. He is being really discreet here, which is a very Japanese trait. A couple of weeks ago I met a young Bangladeshi /Australian woman who grew up in The Shire, she assured me that racism there is still alive and well. How many times have any of us heard someone say why don't you/they go back to where you came from. And lest we forget the Yes Vote was a resounding failure last year. You can love a place and still know there are people around you that you will never fit with. Culture is enrichment, which you can carry with you anywhere. Australia is on balance, abundant with waves. As seems to be the consensus, he is a gentleman in the true sense of the word. I say good luck to him.
Not sure what I think about the nationality change, but he seems like a nice guy and we share the same name! Go Connor(s) !!
When writing about Connors family everyone mentions his mum but his dad Finbarr is a great guy too. Theyre a classic surfing family. I'm happy to see a good guy get run whatever colour he's wearing.
for us east coasters a prime example of country and state of origin shifting/fluidity is the nrl. there is rarely negative press about players choosing to play for Tonga, Samoa, Lebanon, whoever. but as a firm NSW supporter the number of expats who have played for QLD rankles a bit.
As to Connor - i am happy for him and wish him well
GO THE BLUES !!!!!
F#CK THE CANE TOADS.
haha yes go the blues
enjoy
stu i've got one observation that lends itself to something you raise in the article:
i grew up surfing in cronulla and often surfed with connor and the other super groms (who are a little younger than me). i saw, on a few occasions, he would get lightly picked on because he wasn't white.
i never saw flat-out racist name-calling or other bs (though i suspect strongly that he probably did cop some of that but i can't talk to that)
call it kids being kids, or adults who wanted to get a sly word in out of jealousy and misguided anger, or whatever, but i can definitely see how a kid like connor would feel the need to shun his Japanese side to try to fit in in Cronulla.
i offer no point other than it is extremely conceivable that a Japanese Australian kid might only now be happy to explore and celebrate his Japanese roots.
How rad would it have been if Connor had been selected to represent Oz, but chose Japan instead.
the shire wins the gold medal for lots of things.. some good that make you stay, some make you move away
And then there’s those who live in another country for the purposes of tax avoidance
https://www.crikey.com.au/2002/01/21/how-can-a-bermudan-like-pat-rafter-...
As Roy and HG referred to him “The Bermudan of the Year”
A fellow bludger. Happy rugba league to you and your family.
Cant blame him for wanting to go the Olympics, I just feel sorry for genuine Japanese surfers (i.e those born, raised and are currently residents) who may have missed on a spot to a guy that would have otherwise represented Australia if he'd got the spot.
Not uncommon I know, but still a bit of a kick in the guts to some hungry surfer who would bleed for Japan.
Some good counterpoints above and I totally understand as professional sportspeople they need to maximise their ROI for want of a better term. However, my stance is you should be a citizen or at least a permanent resident in order to represent a country. Or at the very very least spent a considerable amount of time in the country you wish to represent. A holiday, contest or a visit to the rellies doesn't cut it. Neither live in Japan. I feel exactly the same about Ms. Gu who I mentioned above.
Second, they are CT'ers, but there's only half a dozen or so countries represented on the CT, so any CT surfers that have maybe a Peruvian or Scottish or Mexican heritage can automatically slingshot themselves into the Olympics?
Good luck and great success to Connor and Kanoa but I still reckon it would add a little more cred if they actually spent a bit of time here. My opinion, nothing more.
As always Mr.Zen spot on with your comments. Sure there's a certain amount of resentment around Shidashita from whoever missed that spot. Sharpening their chopsticks?
If O'Leary-san (lol) goes deep he'll be in Japan selling Weet-bix and Vegemite before you know it.
Watch this space though. Kanoa and Connor are defo medal contenders, as are the Aussies so they could be meeting up at the pointy end, loyalties will be tested.
"My opinion, nothing more."
Hey Zen, I didn't reach out to Connor because, a) he's already given quotes to other news sites about why he switched, and b) the bigger part of the story is not what he things but what the public thinks. The real story is below the line, everyone's opinion counts.
As above Zen, Pat Rafter was a resident of Bermuda for quite a few years when he won the Australian of the Year, anything is justified these days.
Tatiana Weston-Webb moved from Brazil to Hawaii when she was a few weeks old.
It's all just gaming the system for self gain, nothing to do with any form of patriotism, national pride or giving back to the country that helped you get where you are
Apparantly he's a dual citizen, not sure how he holds that as Japan only allows you to have one, not two (if over 22).
So unless he's kept it from childhood and never updated it with the authorities?
Hi Craig just for a balance on opinions your girl is Japanese ..?....so what does she think about it ?
She thinks it's a bit unfair to the other competitors/athletes in Japan as the surf here is generally better for training and performance. Just a lucky situation. She says the Japanese media are all for Connor, welcoming him and giving Japan a better chance of winning. Also she thinks he's cute.
Ha ha! Kawaii! So Japanese.
If it's cute, it gets the tick of approval.
Tbh, the Japanese surf media from what I can tell are behind him and so they should. Not sure how some of the top ranked guys here feel about it though.
Haha, indeed!
She prefer the pre or post mullet look?
With a healthy mullet he could represent Bougainville
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bougainville_Island
a pertinent topic deftly raised with just the right tone @stu.
salient points well put @zen. If Connor has success via the olympics (they could probably review parameters, fer sure) he might well make his Japanese affiliation more formal or permanent. Japan has 5x the population of Aus, he could do very well over there career-wise.
Just like NZlanders move to Aus for greater opportunities because we have 5x the population of NZ.
(We 'lose' talent in all areas to the UK/US/Asia/etc all the time. It's their career and good luck to 'em. And to Connor. A little eyebrow raising is healthy, but it's just flags and competition rules at the end of the day. I'm sure he'll feel an obligation to give back to Japan's surfing culture after this opportunity and the support he is receiving?)
Imagine having both pachinko parlours and cricket! Imagine having tranquil gardens filled with koi fish and 'goon of fortune' on a rotary clothesline! Best of both worlds.
Just checking - did Connor-san qualify through his WCT ranking? (in which case maybe he didn't take a place of another Japanese surfer?)
i was quite surprised when i found out - part of the problem being that he IS such a nice guy - sort of felt like he betrayed my fandom - just me being selfish most likely
i wish him well but still wish it was under an aussie flag.
Hypothetically speaking, how would the wellwishers above feel about a Connor V Callinan final surf off for the world title at Trestles.
Anyone backing Connor or does patriotism win the day, Japan be damned??
I know i'd be cheering for Callinan(Australia) but i'm a relatively simple mind also.
I would be too busy whinging about the location again and dreaming of what both of them could do at solid JBay or Cloudbreak.
hahaha. Ahh that cracked me up LD
Being from around the cronulla area I've nothing but time for the OLearys. Saw Conor grow up in the water and start to kill it. Always a nice kid so I was surprised to read this, seems an un-OLeary thing to do.
I guess its tough at the top and he has to make it pay.
Sad though.
i was just thinking the other day the rich have no queues to 'jump' to live in whatever country they like, they can buy their way into anywhere. no real issue with it except for all the carry on by the demagogues who say nothing about it but everything about reffos.
in Connor's case he has enough talent and puts in the hard work to broaden and improve his options.
good on him.
besides, it's not as though he doesn't have a connection with Japan and we can only guess the depth of this connection to him and what that means for him.
By all accounts a good guy wish him all the best, in this day and age cannot blame him for taking the Japan option recon he would have paid his Japanese dues as a young fella always enjoyed his surfing.
Well they both have 50% Japanese as their DNA so there is a verified connection to the country they will represent.
The only negative I see is they both didn’t make the teams of AUS or the USA and used Japan as a backup. That is where it gets a bit unfair for the Japanese surfers that missed out.
I would have thought 1 chance with 1 country and if you don’t get in, too bad. You need to nominate your country of choice. However, rules allow the switching of allegiance so there it is.
Personally, I would love one of them to medal for Japan. I am biased as Japan is my second home.
50/50 rule hey? So with Connor-san now, and Tatty repping the Brazzo squad, does this mean Kelly will be surfing for Siria?
Is it too late for Kelly to find a piece of land and declare sovereignty, population Kelly, and enter the olympics as his own country?
Antarctica has been claimed by 30 distant countries eg. USA, USSR, UK, Oz & NZ;
just wear an penguin suit for the media & padding for the reef.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica
Good on him. Going to the olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity, the opening ceremony would be a career highlight in its self.
Totally. Waving to all the Aussies as they march past.
Lol
Taking spots away from legitimate Japanese surfers people say. Those same Japanese surfers who live in Hawaii or indo etc ? I’d love to know what Brazilian Tatiana thinks, but I can’t understand a word she says, due to her heavy Portuguese accent. Couple of south Aussies lining up to play for Italy in the cricket World Cup.
Personally Olympics is fine, but it does irk me a bit in the WCT.
Thats funny DRD. Tatty couldn't speak a word of Portuguese four years ago until Jessie snapped her up and turned her to the dark side :)
Wasn’t Connor without a major sponsor a couple of years ago? It seems pretty brutal trying to make a decent living as a pro surfer these days. And the window is short.
I’d be surprised if this wasn’t an extremely tough decision for Connor, but if I was in his shoes I would have done this years ago.
I guess it’s hard for the rest of us who don’t have to wear a flag on our sleeve at our day jobs to empathise with this situation. Maybe a crude example is, would you work for a foreign owned company for double the salary? Ummm, hell yeah.
your last point is a great way to put it.
Dangerous territory Benr, even vaguely suggesting that professional surfers (or any sportsperson) deserve sympathy if things don’t go their way. They could always go down the conventional route of working their way up through any industry at the expense of their surf time
Suggesting that Connor hasn't worked hard on his way up through the industry? Not sure if I've misread your tone but at the end of the day the man is just another hardworking bloke trying to make some coin. Yeah it would have its highlights and probably looks good from the outside but Pro surfing in this day and age would be a bloody slog too with the low job security, fluctuating earnings, intense personal / media scrutiny, physical and psychological demands, limited career length, working your passion as a job etc. Don't think he deserves any less sympathy than any of us in different industries, most of these guys are also just normal blokes at the end of the day.
Agreed JBay. I think it's well more than a generation, if ever, that you could get by on a lot of talent while living on beer and cones between comps. None of these people are Bunker Spreckles.
Many ships fly a Flag of Convenience (FOC)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_convenience
“Imagine there’s no countries, it isn’t hard to do” John Lennon
Totally fair enough and GOOD MOVE Connor. More exposure in Japan = more opportunities for a longer surf career.
I have no problem at all with this. If I was going to, it would have been 50 years ago when this sort of thing first started. It’s a part of every professional sport these days.
And it’s not like he’s some blow-in. I had no idea he was 50/50 Japanese Irish and then he’s giving his Japanese fans a hoi hoi after winning heats. Great.
I’ll cheer him either ways.
When Glen Micro Hall found out is grandmother once had a pet Irish Setter, and change his allegiance to Ireland, no one cared at all. Tho maybe that was because we were not really losing any talent... unlike Connor who rips.
Harsh….but funny. Tirned out to be a pretty good coach though.
My son used to surf with Connor and Connor was a great person. I think its about Charlton Heston.
Charlton Heston said "In Hollywood it is not about the money. It is about THE MONEY".
Japan has a much bigger, more enthusiastic, fun fan base, as Kanoa found out.
Plus Kanoa's surfing has fine next level since he changed flags - no idea if its related. But now I love watching him surf - before I'd just turn off
I hope he does well, I'd imagine it has a bit to do with the financial support he'd receive from Japan as well.
They have supported their surfers incredibly well in the past but Kanoa is the only one to make it. Mar is amazing and so is Reo but they just never quite make it.
A surfers life is short and a real job awaits those who are to complacent.
I think Tatiana Weston Webb, did the same? I only did a quick read of your article, but certainly note-worthy in this instance.
Any truth to the rumours Surfing Australia is trying to recoup $75k in ‘training/sponsorship’ fees from Connor?
Doesn’t he have mixed parentage? So he’s eligible to ‘bat for both teams’? (Some woke idiot will probably say I cannot use that term lol).
I think some people think the Olympics is a prestigious event to appear in? A little different than swapping surfboard sponsors but how many people get that chance in their lifetime?
He has also done Australia proud whilst surfing under that flag, has he not?
Re ‘not a nice guy’? I’ve always found him to be the perfect gentleman.
I have no particular ties to Connor, or O’Leary as you call him. I’ve just met him a few times.
Just my 6th penneth.
And no pseudonym to post under by the way.
I'm slow to post on this thread.
I was in Japan recently on holidays and it amazed me to see Kanoa on a number of TV commercials. He had one for Visa, Shiseido (cosmetics), and Quicksilver that I noticed. So, his earnings potential is not limited to surfing related company endorsements. Connor made a great financial move electing Japan, as no doubt he will start appearing in TV commercials in Japan during and after the Olympics.
Best of luck to him.
I've never encountered him in the line up at Cronulla, but have ran into Occy back in the days (late 80s). Or should I say he ran over me - I still have a scar from a fin gash on my shoulder from him carving up a wave at Cronulla Point as I duck dived under him.
Just wanted to highlight the bottom photo of Connor.
How's the water, how's the back foot?
I was having a surf today and had a chat to a Japanese pro I know. I asked what does he and some of the other Japanese pros feel about Kanoa and Connor. Being Japanese, they never badmouth anyone but if you can read between the lines, it seems the consensus among the pros is that they're ambivalent at best and on the other hand not super thrilled to have either competing for Japan. I noted to him that Kanoa had won Silver and he said that was cool and if they could get a medal again it would be great for Japan. But he said it would be better if they at least lived in Japan for awhile. My mate said of course it's important to win medals but this is what really stuck with me, he said there's heaps of Japanese chargers who could do quite well at Chopes but conceded that up against Jack, or JJ or Medina they'd struggle. What really got me though was he said something in Japanese that I loosely could work out meant he questioned how much of their heart lives in Japan? Food for thought.
That's based on a sample size of one. But nice young fella and fark, does he RIP!