Meet the funniest competitor in Pan Pac Masters Games

MEET the funniest competitor at the Pan Pacific Masters Games.And, as he happily declares, perhaps the worst.

MEET the funniest competitor at the Pan Pacific Masters Games.

And, as he happily declares, perhaps the worst.

Sean O’Hara may be 81 but it hasn’t stopped the sporting tragic from nominating for four events at the popular masters competition which starts Friday.

CAREER ENDS IN NOOSA

He will line up in the Beach Mile at Kurrawa (November 7), the 5km road race (November 8), the 4km cross country (November 9) and the 10.5km trail run (November 10).

Luckily, clever O’Hara has devised a plan to conquer the lot ... sort of.

PLEASE INCLUDE THAT THIS PIC WAS TAKEN AT SPORTS SUPER CENTRE GOLD COAST IN CAPTION, THANKS.81 year old Sean O'Hara will compete in four events at the Pan Pac Games next week.Photo by Richard Gosling

“I don’t run the whole way – I will walk and jog and crawl when I need to,” he laughed.

“My idea these days is to start and to finish the race – what I do in between is my business.

“Obviously when the other guys are coming back (from a lap) I’m still on the way up.

“But when you are running last you get the biggest cheer.”

Born in Melbourne, O’Hara and late wife Val – who passed away in 2017 – moved to the Gold Coast in 1986.

NEW AUSSIE SKIPPER

His love of the Sydney Swans and all things Aussie rules meant he jumped at the chance to become a foundation member of the Brisbane Bears in 1987.

That passion also led him to compete in every Australian masters competition, except for 2002, since 1996.

This one, he says, could be a “swan song” – possibly.

“I do it for fun,” he said of competing.

SPORTS IDENTITY IN HIS UNDERWEAR

“The biggest thing for the Pan Pacific Games is the event – the races, I don’t look forward to that.

“I might call a press conference and say if I’m going to retire ... but I say that every year.”

As for what happens outside of the masters competitions, O’Hara also knows what to expect.

“The ladies footballers, they know how to party,” he laughed.

“And the netballers, if they gave out a gold medal for partying, they would win every time.”