Austin O'Connor, the Team's Honorary Father, Gears Up for His Fourth Olympics

 

Austin O’Connor's Journey to His Fourth Olympics: A Tale of Dedication and Success

Austin O’Connor’s path to his fourth Olympic Games reads like a classic story of Irish excellence in equestrian sports.

While Grace Davison was celebrating her first birthday, O’Connor was competing in his second Olympics at the 2008 Beijing Games. Although the equestrian events were held in Hong Kong, O’Connor played a key role in Ireland's eighth-place finish in the team event.

Now, at 49, O’Connor is the honorary father of the Irish team for the Paris Olympics, where he will ride his talented grey gelding, Colorado Blue. This will mark his fourth time competing in the Games, and his recent performances suggest he could be a strong contender for a podium finish.

O’Connor’s journey began in Mallow, North Cork, where he grew up surrounded by sport horses. Despite the prominence of thoroughbred racing in the region, O’Connor focused on equestrian sports from an early age. His early career was shaped by time spent with national hunt trainer Michael Hourigan and later with Dutch rider Wiegersma in Cornwall, England.

After moving to England 29 years ago, O’Connor worked diligently to establish his career, eventually setting up his own stables in Worcestershire on January 1, 1999. His breakthrough came with the mare Simply Rhett and later with Horsewear Fabio, who took him to the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

O’Connor's journey through the Olympics has been diverse. Sydney provided a memorable experience, but his subsequent Olympic appearances in Beijing and Tokyo were marked by unique challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and geographical separations from the main events.

In Paris, the equestrian events will be held in Versailles, away from the central Olympic activities. Despite this, O’Connor, who has experienced various facets of the Olympic journey, is enthusiastic about the upcoming Games.

Colorado Blue, or ‘Salty,’ was discovered through O’Connor’s long association with renowned producer Kate Jarvey. Despite his role in producing horses for sale, O’Connor saw Salty’s exceptional potential and formed a syndicate to keep him. Salty, now fifteen, has recently achieved significant successes, including a third place at Badminton and a win at Maryland’s five-star event.

O’Connor believes Salty’s success stems from his quality, heart, and continuous improvement. With his youthful enthusiasm and dedication, O’Connor is ready to make a strong showing at the Paris Olympics.