Australian-born pro surfer reaches Paris Olympics with Japan / Photo: Ben Thouard - AFP
-
South African rugby player's death due to 'aortic dissection'
-
UN issues call to arms to combat off-the-charts El Nino
-
France's Macron lands in Riyadh on surprise 'solidarity' visit
-
Nigeria Ebola case matches DR Congo strain
-
Around the world, far right blames immigrants for French protests
-
Musk's SpaceX helps launch stock market gains
-
South Africa eases fuel pain as growth slows
-
Rose salutes Bournemouth's past heroes ahead of AC Milan clash
-
Woody Allen shoots new movie in Madrid
-
Argentina's Milei calls Spain PM Sanchez a 'dictator' in Madrid visit
-
Nvidia's Huang urges Europe to go all in on AI
-
Barca's Olmo injured for a month, misses Clasico
-
Five things to know as French bond yield tops 5%
-
Impacts of UK's new North Sea gas drilling
-
'Complete threat' Ngumoha excites Liverpool captain Van Dijk
-
Jansen takes five for South Africa as Australia forced to follow on
-
'The fishing's terrible': Deforestation devastates C.Africa river
-
Toulouse v Troyes Ligue 1 game postponed as France gripped by unrest
-
France's tourism sector worried about impact of riots
-
PSG winger Kvaratskhelia's season in doubt after torn ACL
-
Macron takes aim at Trump for using France riots for election gain
-
Putin, Witkoff meet in Russia for Ukraine war talks
-
North Korea says 'new firepower units' in place, loudspeakers to return
-
Musk's SpaceX helps fuel stock market gains
-
Indonesia leader hits out at market downgrade warning
-
Authors urge UK to halt 'draconian' Palestine Action ban as Rooney sales end
-
Macron slams 'stupid' comments based on AI videos by leaders on France riots
-
South Korea guides crowd-pulling shark out of canal
-
'Public health crisis': Indonesians seek fire relief from state
-
PSG's Kvaratskhelia season in doubt after torn ACL
-
British Museum sells second set of Bayeux exhibition tickets
-
President berates countries that 'insult' Indonesia over wildfires
-
Australian lawmaker loses both legs after 'targeted' attack
-
PSG's Kvaratskhelia set for months out with torn ACL
-
UK approves drilling in controversial Jackdaw gas field
-
Japan sends senior diplomat to Russia over detained journalist
-
Carrefour shares plunge after profit warning on French protests
-
Rising UK inflation, debt knocks govt ahead of budget
-
North Korea says 'new firepower units' in place after border threat
-
UK govt approves drilling in controversial Jackdaw gas field
-
Australia lawmaker loses both legs after 'targeted' attack
-
US envoy to meet Putin after 'positive' talks with Zelensky
-
Director Nick Paley channels childhood fears in new thriller 'Phony'
-
UK govt approves drilling in Jackdaw gas field
-
'Daily struggle': Cubans dig wells in search of water
-
Rome hospital taps culture to help heal cancer patients
-
Prized wild pepper at risk in Madagascar's shrinking forests
-
'Media capture': Serbian journalists squeezed before vote
-
World falling 'dangerously short' on climate action: UN chief
-
US envoy to meet Russia's president after 'positive' talks with Zelensky
NYSE - LSE
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.
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN
