Les O'Connell

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Leslie "Les" James O'Connell (born May 23, 1958 in Timaru , New Zealand ) is a former New Zealand rower who was 1984 Olympic champion in the four without a helmsman .

The 1.93 m tall O'Connell from the Avon Rowing Club in Christchurch was a member of the New Zealand eight in 1982 , which won the title in front of the boats from the GDR and the Soviet Union at the 1982 World Rowing Championships in Lucerne. At the 1983 World Championships in Duisburg, Conrad Robertson , Keith Trask , Gregory Johnston , Les O'Connell started with helmsman Brett Hollister in a four with helmsman and won the title in front of the boat from the GDR. The following year , the Eastern Bloc countries, with the exception of Romania , boycotted the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Les O'Connell, Conrad Robertson, Shane O'Brien and Keith Trask won the first run in the four without a helmsman at the Olympic regatta, the US boat won the second run. In the final, the New Zealanders won by over two seconds over the Americans. With Tong Ross for Conrad Robertson, the New Zealand four-man finished fourth at the 1985 World Rowing Championships .

Les O'Connell won two New Zealand championship titles: 1984 in two without a helmsman and 1986 in a four without a helmsman. In addition to his professional career in his own construction company, O'Connell also worked as a trainer at the Avon Rowing Club .

Web links

personal data
SURNAME O'Connell, Les
ALTERNATIVE NAMES O'Connell, Leslie James (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION New Zealand rower
DATE OF BIRTH May 23, 1958
PLACE OF BIRTH Timaru