He is a double Olympian who represented Ireland and won five medals at the World Championships as part of a lightweight pair.
He has won 5 medals at the World Rowing Championships in the Men's Lightweight Pair: Gold in 2001; Silvers in 1996 and 1997: Bronzes in 1994 and 1999.
He and partner Neville Maxwell held the World Best Time for Men's Lightweight Pair, 6:26.61 set at Paris in 1994.
[2][3][4] Tony O'Connor was also the coach for the New Zealand men's eight, which won gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Tony O’Connor currently coaches at Christ’s College, Canterbury, New Zealand, where he also teaches mathematics.