PDG David Barton introduced our guest speaker Connor Nicholas - Australian Olympic Sailor.
Olympian Connor Nicholas was our guest speaker on Monday 14th April, 2025 where he relayed to us the life course he travelled to reach the pinnacle of being an Australian Olympian sailing against the best of the rest of the world.
As a 27 year old young man he had undergone a wealth of experiences both physically and emotionally challenging.
As a young boy Connor took up sailing at South of Perth Yacht Club developing through a variety of group class boats from Ilka class to eventually sail an Akra 17 which is a catamaran styled yacht.
2024 saw this young man and his partner in sailing move into the top ten of world champions and potentially there was a chance they may be selected for the olympics.
Imagine sitting at home and just waiting for that phone call and yes the phone rang.
Expecting to hear he didn’t make it, imagine the euphoria Connor felt when on answering the phone Connor was told he would be representing Australia and the Paris Olympics.
Connor and Mia sailed with the pride of Australia behind them .
The very poignant parts to Connors presentation was the deep love and support he had from his family. Trauma, jubilation, humility and achievement were only a few of the superlatives that Connor had experienced.
A never ending memory is the immense exhilaration and pride that Connor felt to wear his Olympic Jacket with the name of Olympian’s past inscribed into the lining of that jacket.
How amazing it was to hear to tales of this Australian Olympian and his achievements.
We wish him well for the future in his sailing endeavours.
