| Hobbies |
Walking, travel, cinema, reading. (Facebook page, 01 Sep 2019) |
| Most influential person in career |
Irish jumper Gerry Mullins, and his parents. (thenewstory.net, 30 Apr 2014; horsesportireland.ie, 23 Aug 2010) |
| Hero / Idol |
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, Irish jumper Gerry Mullins. (thenewstory.net, 30 Apr 2014; horsesportireland.ie, 23 Aug 2010) |
| Injuries |
In April 2017 he sustained a groin injury and was unable to compete for eight weeks. (cianoconnor.com, 23 Jan 2018; noellefloyd.com, 27 Apr 2017) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Success is reward for effort. There's no voodoo psychology involved. It's not going to happen unless you make it happen." (fei.org, 06 Jan 2021; cianoconnor.com, 01 Mar 2018) |
| Awards and honours |
He was named as part of the Horse Sport Ireland Team of the Year at the 2017 Irish Show Jumping Awards Gala in Naas. He was also named International Rider of the Year and presented with an International Equestrian Federation [FEI] Gold Badge of Honour at the same ceremony. (worldofshowjumping.com, 04 Dec 2017; horsesportireland.ie, 03 Dec 2017)
He won the Irish Field Top Showjumper Award for 2012 and 2017. (cianoconnor.com, 01 Mar 2018; Showjumping Ireland Facebook page, 22 Jan 2013)
He won Ireland's International Showjumper of the Year Award in 2016. (cianoconnor.com, 10 Dec 2016)
He was part of the team that won an Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2015 Irish Youth Foundation Sport Excellence Awards. (Team Ireland Equestrian Facebook page, 07 Dec 2015) |
| Famous relatives |
His grandfather Karl Mullen played rugby union for Ireland. His sister Pippa O'Connor has worked as a model. (irishdeaths.com, 13 Oct 2014; horseandhound.co.uk, 23 Jul 2008; FEI, 29 Jun 2004) |
| Ambitions |
To win gold at the Olympic Games in 2024 and 2028. (worldofshowjumping.com, 04 Apr 2022) |
| Other information |
FUTURE PLANS
In 2022 he said he hoped to continue competing until the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. "The sport has changed so much and continues to develop constantly. For me it's a case of finding the right balance between the many moving parts in my business. However, the fire is still burning inside me for the top sport, so I'd like to have a go at it for the next couple of years. I'm passionate about the Olympics, and after my individual bronze from London and the seventh-place finish in Tokyo I'm looking at 2024 and 2028 aiming for gold." (worldofshowjumping.com, 04 Apr 2022)
STABLES
He runs an equestrian facility called Karlswood Stables in Batterstown, Ireland, where he trains horses and coaches young riders. He has also spent time coaching in the United States of America during the northern hemisphere winter, and has a base near Frankfurt, Germany. "We have so many facets at Karlswood Stables, and I'm involved in managing people, trading and so many different things. Over the last number of years, completing Karlswood and developing our students has been my main goal and I'm pleased to say that together with a huge background team we have managed to achieve both." (worldofshowjumping.com, 04 May 2022; horsesport.com, 06 Jul 2020; fei.org, 09 Oct 2019; theirishfield.ie, 23 Apr 2018)
ATHLETE REPRESENTATIVE
In September 2018 he was named athlete representative on the jumping committee of the International Equestrian Federation [FEI]. He resigned from the role in September 2019. "I decided to step down from the role to focus on other activities as I felt I wasn't making an impact. Also, given my business, personal commitments and my own career, it is probably something that I entered too soon, but would be interested in doing later in life, when I have more time." (horsesport.com, 06 Jul 2020; equnews.com, 02 Sep 2019; eventingnation.com, 25 Sep 2018; irishexaminer.com, 22 Aug 2018) |
FEI Database
cianoconnor.com/ 
www.facebook.com/cianoconnorofficial 
twitter.com/Cian_O_Connor 
instagram.com/cianoconnor_official 
www.youtube.com/user/karlswoodstables 
