Cian O'Connor
Cian O'Connor (born 12 November 1979) is an Irish equestrian who competes in show jumping. He has competed at three Olympic Games, four World Championships and six European Championships, and has attained 133 senior caps for his country. He placed first at the 2004 Olympics, but his horse was later discovered to have a banned substance in its system, and O'Connor was stripped of the gold medal. He won an individual bronze medal at the London Olympic Games 2012 and was a member of the Irish team that took a gold medal at the European Championships in Gothenburg in 2017. O’Connor also won a bronze individual medal at the latter event. At the Tokyo Summer Olympics (which was held in 2021), Cian and his Irish-bred mount Susan Magnier’s Irish bred Kilkenny finished seventh in the individual class.[1]
| Cian O'Connor | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Ireland | |||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Show jumping | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | 12 November 1979 Dublin, Ireland | |||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | |||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 163 lb (74 kg; 11 st 9 lb) | |||||||||||||||||
| Website | ||||||||||||||||||
| https://www.cianoconnor.com | ||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Cian was also a member of the Irish Teams that won Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse show in 2004, 2012, 2015 and 2022, which he most recently participated in alongside his pupil Max Wachman.[2]
O’Connor was also a member of the winning Irish team at the European Show Jumping Championships in 2017, again after a 16-year absence from the podium by Ireland. He also took an individual bronze medal at these championships.[3]
Aside from his own participation in the sport, O’Connor has also carved out a significant reputation as a coach to an outstanding crop of younger riders across Ireland, North America and beyond who continue to compete at the highest level of showjumping, both nationally and internationally.[4]
O’Connor also specialises in producing younger horses to achieve top international standards and has a reputation for being able to identify horses with such potential, often early in their careers.[5]
Recently, he was part of the Irish World Championships team in Herning 2022, where they secured the qualification for the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
Major results edit
| Year | Place | Horse | Event | Rating | Show | Location |
| 2022 | 1st | Kilkenny | Grand Prix | CSI3* | Sunshine Tour Montenmedio | Vejer de la Frontera, Spain |
| 2022 | 1st | Kilkenny | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO5* | RDS Arena | Dublin, Ireland [6] |
| 2022 | 4th | C Vier 2 | World Equestrian Championships Team Final | CSIO5* | Herning Rideklub | Herning, Denmark [6] |
| 2022 | 1st | Taj Mahal | Grand Prix | CSI3* | Knokke Hippique | Knokke, Belgium[6] |
| 2021 | 3rd | Kilkenny | Grand Prix | CSI5* | Wellington Equestrian Festival | Wellington, USA[6] |
| 2021 | 4th | Kilkenny | Grand Prix | CSI4* | Tops International Arena | Valkenswaard, The Netherlands[6] |
| 2021 | 7th | Kilkenny | Olympic Games Tokyo Individual Final | Olympic Games | Summer Olympic Games Tokyo | Tokyo, Japan [6] |
| 2019 | 2nd | PSG Final | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO5* | Piazza Di Sienna | Rome, Italy[6] |
| 2019 | 1st | PSG Final | Senior Nations Cup Final | CSIO5* | Real Club De Polo | Barcelona, Spain [6] |
| 2019 | 1st | PSG Final | Grand Prix | CSI4* | X-Bionic Sphere | Samorin, Slovakia[6] |
| 2019 | 3rd | PSG Final | Global Champions League Final | CSI5* | O2 Arena PraguePlayoffs | Prague, Czech Republic[6] |
| 2018 | Bronze Medal | Good Luck | World Equestrian Championships Team Final | CSI5* | Tryon Equestrian Centre | Tryon, USA[6] |
| 2017 | 1st | Good Luck | Grand Prix | CSIO5* | Hipodrom Sopot | Sopot, Poland[6] |
| 2017 | Gold Medal | Good Luck | European Championship Team Final | EUCH | Gothenburg Horse Show | Gothenburg, Sweden[6] |
| 2017 | Bronze Medal | Good Luck | European Championship Individual Final | EUCH | Gothenburg Horse Show | Gothenburg, Sweden[6] |
| 2016 | 1st | Good Luck | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO5* | RDS Arena | Dublin, Ireland[6] |
| 2016 | 4th | Good Luck | Grand Prix | CSIO5* | RDS Arena | Dublin, Ireland[6] |
| 2016 | 5th | Good Luck | Grand Prix | CSIO5* | Los Angeles Horse Show | Los Angeles, USA[6] |
| 2016 | 3rd | Good Luck | World Cup | CSI5* WC | Stuttgart German Masters | Stuttgart, Germany[6] |
| 2013 | 3rd | Blue Lloyd 12 | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO5* | RDS Arena | Dublin, Ireland[6] |
| 2013 | 1st | Blue Lloyd 12 | Grand Prix | CSIO5* | RDS Arena | Dublin, Ireland[6] |
| 2012 | 2nd | Blue Lloyd 12 | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO4* | Hubside Jumping Valence | Valence, France[6] |
| 2012 | Bronze Medal | Blue Lloyd 12 | Olympic Games London Individual Final | Olympic Games | Summer Olympic Games London | London, United Kingdom[6] |
| 2012 | 3rd | Blue Lloyd 12 | Grand Prix | CSIO5* | RDS Arena | Dublin, Ireland[6] |
| 2012 | 1st | Blue Lloyd 12 | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO5* | RDS Arena | Dublin, Ireland[6] |
| 2011 | 2nd | Larkhill Cruiser | World Cup | CSIO4* WC | Al Ain Equestrian Centre | Abu Dhabi, UAE[6] |
| 2011 | 1st | Larkhill Cruiser | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO5* | La Baule Horse Show | La Baule, France[6] |
| 2010 | 1st | Rancorrado | Grand Prix | CSI4* | Longines CHI Classics Basel | Basel, Switzerland[6] |
| 2010 | 3rd | K Club Lady | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO5* | Piazza Di Sienna | Rome, Italy[6] |
| 2010 | 2nd | K Club Lady | Grand Prix | CSIO5* | CSIO St Gallen | St Gallen, Switzerland[6] |
| 2010 | 2nd | K Club Lady | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO5* | RDS Arena | Dublin, Ireland[6] |
| 2009 | 3rd | Rancorrado | World Cup | CSI5* WC | Partner Pferd Leipzig | Leipzig, Germany[6] |
| 2009 | 3rd | Rancorrado | Senior Nations Cup | CSIO5* | All English Show Grounds Hickstead | Hickstead, United Kingdom[6] |
| 2009 | 2nd | Rancorrado | World Cup | CSI5* WC | Olympia London Horse Show | London, United Kingdom [6] |
| 2009 | 1st | Rancorrado | Grand Prix | CSI5* WC | Olympia London Horse Show | London, United Kingdom[6] |
| 2008 | 1st | Rancorrado | Grand Prix | CSI4* | Chateau De Chantilly | Chantilly, France[6] |
| 2008 | 4th | Rancorrado | Grand Prix | CSIO5* | Real Club De Polo Barcelona | Barcelona, Spain[6] |
2004 Summer Olympics
Riding his horse, Waterford Crystal, O'Connor finished as winner of the jumping competition, sand his gold medal made him the only Irish medalist that year. However, on 8 October 2004, it emerged that Waterford Crystal had tested positive for a prohibited substance. The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) ruled that O'Connor must be stripped of his medal and he also received a three-month ban from competition. FEI found that he did not deliberately attempt to affect the performance of the horse. The individual showjumping gold medal went to Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa and the Irish team's seventh place was inherited by the Italians.[7]
2020 Summer Olympics
Placed seventh Individual in Tokyo 2020 Olympics (celebrated in 2021) with his horse Kilkenny.[8]
2012 Summer Olympics
Won the bronze medal in London with his horse Blue Loyd 12 in individual jumping. He lost to Gerco Schröder of the Netherlands in a Silver medal jump-off.[9]2004 Summer Olympics
Riding his horse, Waterford Crystal, he became an instant national hero, being the only Irish medalist that year. However, on 8 October 2004, it emerged that Waterford Crystal had tested positive for a prohibited substance. The Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) ruled that O'Connor must be stripped of his medal and he also received a three-month ban from competition. FEI found that he did not deliberately attempt to affect the performance of the horse. The individual showjumping gold medal went to Brazilian Rodrigo Pessoa and the Irish team's seventh place was inherited by the Italians.[10]
Horses edit
Kilkenny
(01/05/2012) Gelding, Grey. Irish Sport Horse (Cardento 933 x Guidam)
Taj Mahal [11]
(11/05/2013) Stallion, Bay. Zangersheide (Emerald Van'T Ruytershof x Quannan R)
C Vier 2 [12]
(22/05/2008) Gelding, Bay. Holsteiner (Cardento 933 x Concorde)
Good Luck [13]
(15/05/2006) Stallion, Bay. Belgian Warmblood (Canturo x Furioso II)
Blue Lloyd 12 [14] (11/02/2000) Gelding, Bay. Oldenburger (Landor S x Hadj A X)
Splendor [15]
(31/05/1999) Gelding, Chestnut. Dutch Warmblood (Lester x Marinier)
K Club Lady [16]
(08/03/1999) Mare, Bay. Holsteiner (Calido x Landgraf I)
Arabella [17]
(05/05/2003) Mare, Bay. Irish Sport Horse (Heartbreaker x Cavalier Royale)
Larkhill Cruiser
(20/03/2001) Gelding, Chestnut. Irish Sport Horse (Cruising x Crosstown Dancer)
Rancorrado [18]
(06/04/1998) Gelding, Bay. Dutch Warmblood (Gran Corrado x Hamlet)
Echo Beach [18]
(23/05/2007) Stallion, Bay. Anglo European (Unbelievable Darco x Goodtimes)
Waterford Crystal [18]
(06/03/1991) Gelding, Bay. Holsteiner (Landgraf I x Corvado)
References edit
- ^ "Cian O'Connor". Olympic Games.
- ^ "Aga Khan Trophy Winners" (PDF).
- ^ "European Bronze Medal".
- ^ "Coaching To Perform, Cian O'Connor".
- ^ "Sourcing The Right Horse, Cian O'Connor".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "Cian O'Connor FEI results".
- ^ "Cian O'Connor Athens 2020 Olympics".
- ^ "The Irish Field, Olympic Games".
- ^ Live Olympics coverage, NBC.
- ^ "Cian O'Connor Athens 2020 Olympics".
- ^ "Taj Mahal".
- ^ "C Vier 2".
- ^ "Good Luck".
- ^ "Blue Lloyd 12".
- ^ "Splendor".
- ^ "K Club Lady".
- ^ "Arabella".
- ^ a b c "Equestrian Performance".
External links edit
- at the Wayback Machine (archived 23 May 2001)
- Cian O'Connor (and here) at FEI
- Cian O'Connor at the Olympic Federation of Ireland
- Cian O'Connor at Olympics.com
- Cian O'Connor at Olympedia