Kanoa Igarashi to surf for Japan as Tokyo 2020 Olympics loom
JAPAN has snared one of the best young surfers in the world for a tilt at representing the host nation in surfing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but another is staying in Australian colours.
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JAPAN has snared one of the best young surfers in the world for a tilt at representing the host nation in surfing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but another is staying in Australian colours.
While Kanoa Igarashi has opted to represent Japan, not the US, Cronulla surfer and last year’s WSL rookie of the year Connor O’Leary has indicated he has no plans to switch nationalities for an Olympic spot.
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O’Leary’s mother is Japanese but the young surfer says he will be representing Australia as he bids to make a mark on the men’s surfing world tour in his second year.
“Mum is Japanese. There is potential for me to compete for Japan. But I was born an Australian. It would be hard for me to comprehend taking someone’s spot who is living there,” O’Leary said recently.
Both surfers will be contesting the Surfest event at Newcastle next week which has attracted numerous big name surfers looking for an event to hone their competition skills ahead of the opening round of the world tour, the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks in March.
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Igarashi, who holds dual citizenship, will be the first surfer to ever represent Japan on the world tour with his move.
“I am proud to surf for Japan. My parents are Japanese, my whole family is Japanese. I have a lot of support and fans over there,” he said.
“We do not have any Japanese surfers on the CT, so it is something for them to cheer for and have that part in the WSL. I am sure they are really excited, and I am looking forward to it. My family is stoked.”
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The likes of Owen Wright and Matt Wilkinson head the list of surfers competing in Newcastle with world champion Tyler Wright headlining the women’s competition at Surfest.