Star snapper’s son dreams of golden future

The son of acclaimed celebrity photographer Nick Leary is on his way to becoming Australia’s first Jiu-Jitsu medallist at an Olympic games.

Martial arts champion Levi Jones-Leary at Bondi Beach. Picture: Monique Harmer

The son of acclaimed celebrity photographer Nick Leary is on his way to becoming Australia’s first Jiu-Jitsu medallist at an Olympic games.

Having recently won back to back titles in the lightweight division at both Pan Am in the US and the European Championships, Levi Jones-Leary is the first Australian to rank number one in the world in the sport ever.

And he’s got his heart set on winning gold for his country at the Olympics, hopefully in Paris in 2024, when he believes Jiu-Jitsu will be added to the roster.

Levi Jones-Leary at Bondi Beach. Picture: Monique Harmer

“They’re pushing hard for Jiu-Jitsu to be added to the Olympics,” he said. “It will be there, I am sure. If it is in the 2024 Olympics, I am going to be in my physical peak at that age so I am looking to get an Olympic gold medal. That will be a dream for me, for sure. Who doesn’t want an Olympic gold medal?”

Jones-Leary dropped out of school and took to full time Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 15 and moved to the United States two years later to pursue his dream of being a champion.

Times were tough, although now with some sponsorships under his belt (Braus Fight, Spacenow), and his number one ranking, he’s earning a full-time living from the sport.

Levi with his celebrity photographer dad, Nick Leary. Picture: Supplied.

“I have sponsors now but at the beginning it was very tough,” he explained. “At the beginning I was eating a lot of rice and beans and sleeping on the mats in the gyms overseas, basically homeless until last year.”

With his sporting star on the rise, there’s also been interest from modelling and talent agents keen to capitalise on his good looks and increased profile.

Levi is the first Australian to rank number one in the world in the sport ever.

“My dad has been helping me with all of the business side of things because I am hopeless at that,” he said of his father, who is one of our most in demand fashion and beauty photographers thanks to working with the likes of Elle Macpherson, Hugh Jackman, Rose Byrne and Cate Blanchett.

Jones-Leary, who is based in New York but came home to see his family in Bondi this week, will next compete at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in the US in June.

“Every hour of the day is towards Jiu-Jitsu,” he said, adding that another dream is to earn enough prize money to buy his mum a house.

“When I am not training I am studying tapes of matches, watching the best guys. It is a full time job, it has to be.”

Originally published as Star snapper’s son dreams of golden future