Australian-born pro surfer reaches Paris Olympics with Japan / Photo: Ben Thouard - AFP
-
India student protests keep up pressure on Modi government
-
In Kazakhstan, emptying villages and overcrowded cities
-
Italian FA chief says in touch with Guardiola over coaching vacancy
-
Hitler's Austrian birthplace transformed into police station
-
Cooler inflation hands new UK PM Burnham an early boost
-
Mideast conflict lifts Brent back above $94, stocks give up gains
-
Bezos holds talks with group interested in buying Liverpool stake: reports
-
Greece broils on year's warmest day as three-day heatwave peaks
-
The student movement in India challenging Modi's government
-
Japan cities 'cruelly hot' for first time
-
Danish fish fossil cliffs set to gain UNESCO status
-
Lithuania moves Red Army graves to leave behind Soviet past
-
In Bulgarian mountains, local doctor still on call at 90
-
OpenAI reports 'unprecedented' autonomous hack by AI agents
-
Australia protests China's 'destabilising' missile test
-
India opposition leader released after protest detention
-
Sydney court dismisses defamation case against film star Rebel Wilson
-
Australia cricket great Warner pleads guilty to drink-driving
-
US tariffs on Brazil take effect as Trump readies fresh flurry
-
US hits Iran, says war cost at $37.5 bn
-
Death toll rises to 13 in Chile's severe storms
-
Tech lifts Asia stocks, Brent crude back above $92
-
24 hours in a Ukrainian hospital, buckling under the toll of war
-
Hitler's Austrian birthplace to become a police station
-
India's domestic workers go online as instant services boom
-
Decomposed body in singer D4vd's car was 'unrecognizable,' court hears
-
From bath to fish market: DJs play to revive Japan neighbourhoods
-
A once wary Hollywood slowly warms to AI
-
Nearly 3,000-year-old human remains unearthed in El Salvador
-
Designing a Tour de France route: a three-year labour of love
-
New Zealand may miss climate targets due to government policies: report
-
Chelsea sign Rogers from Villa for reported UK record fee
-
Hormuz, Malacca and other key straits spawn tensions throughout history
-
'The Dink' sees comedy in US pickleball craze
-
XCF Announces $2.50 Exercise Price Warrant Capital Strategy to Support Operations and Growth
-
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - July 22
-
Cashmere Valley Bank Reports Increased Quarterly Earnings of $6.9 million, Year to Date Earnings of $12.7 million
-
Eldex Corporation Strengthens Long-Term Scientific Engagement Through Continued Partnership with Bioz
-
Who is the Best Plastic Surgeon in Bellevue, Washington?
-
Top 3 Botox Clinics in Washington
-
At least 53 dead in Guyana capsized ferry disaster
-
Rainout keeps Red Sox MLB win streak at 14 with two games Wednesday
-
Colombia to host office of Trump's anti-cartel alliance: president-elect
-
Zelensky sacks army chief Syrsky after days of protests
-
Trump says US 'not finished' as Iran widens attacks
-
Messi lands in Argentine hometown after World Cup defeat
-
Panthers lose Moton to blood clot as NFL camps open
-
Lipowitz breaks collarbone in Tour de France crash
-
LPGA launches Nanea Cup event next March in Hawaii
-
India opposition leader Gandhi detained after calling for PM resignation
Australian-born pro surfer reaches Paris Olympics with Japan
Australian-born pro surfer Connor O'Leary is off to this summer's Paris Olympics with Japan having switched allegiances last year to his mother's homeland.
The 30-year-old, who hails from the Sydney suburb of Cronulla, was picked as Japan's third and final representative in their men's surfing team for the Games, the Nippon Surfing Association said.
The surfing competition at the Olympics in July-August is taking place on the French Pacific island of Tahiti.
O'Leary's mother Akemi Karasawa is a former Japanese surfing champion while his father is Australian.
"So excited to officially announce that I will be representing Japan at the Paris 2024 Olympics!" O'Leary told his 70,000 followers on Instagram.
He added: "Tahiti here we come!"
O'Leary, who speaks Japanese, is currently fifth of 35 competitors in the World Surf League men's rankings.
He reportedly switched to representing Japan to bolster his chances of getting to the Olympics.
"To be able to qualify for Australia would be great as well, but with where I am at in my career, (representing Japan is) such a great way to expand my horizon," O'Leary told SBS Japanese last year.
O'Leary said that growing up he had been shy about his background.
"I spent 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," he told SBS.
E.Hall--AT
