Sydney surfer Connor O'Leary has been named to represent Japan at the Paris Olympics after officially switching his allegiance to his mother's birth country last year.
The 30-year-old announced on social media that he had been included as one of three men in the Japan team to compete in late July, with the surfing to be held at the Teahupo'o break on the French Pacific island Tahiti.
O'Leary's mother Akemi Karasawa is a former Japanese surfing champion, but Connor has an Australian father and was raised in Cronulla.
In 2021 O’Leary first placed a Japanese flag on his jersey alongside the Australian flag, a move approved by the International Surfing Association.
He spoke Japanese to deliver the news on Instagram, and also posted a message in English: "So excited to officially announce that I will be representing Japan at the Paris 2024 Olympics! Thank you to the NSA & the JOC for the incredible opportunity. Tahiti here we come."
O'Leary was selected by the Nippon Surfing Association after Japan secured an extra slot by winning the men's teams event at the ISA World Surfing Games at California's Huntington Beach in 2022.
Australia's Sally Fitzgibbons missed selection for her second Olympics despite winning this year's ISA event in Puerto Rico, with her team only placing second behind Brazil.
Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright had already qualified for the Games through 2023's World Surf League rankings.
Currently ranked world No.5, O'Leary joins Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Kanoa Igarashi and Reo Inaba in the Japan line-up.
Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing will represent Australia in the men's division.
