Alexander O'Connell

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 Name: Alexander O'Connell

 Essex base: Brentwood

Date of Birth: 17/04/1988

Height: 6’ 3”

Weight: 90 kgs

Sport: Fencing

Event: Men's Sabre

Club: Brentwood Fencing Club and Cambridge University Fencing Club

Coach: David Sach and Mike Matthews

Occupation: Student at Churchill College, Cambridge University. Currently in 3rd Year studying for a B.A. in Classical Greek and Latin. As from July 2009 Alex will be fencing full time in preparation for London 2012.

Education: Brentwood School 1995 – 2006 Head of School in Upper VI Form. 

Competitions and Achievements

2009

•  World Senior Ranking: 70th

2008

• Olympian – 2008 Beijing Olympics
• Logrono U/20 A Grade
• Ranked 1, Under 20 World Rankings
• Bristol Senior Open Domestic title
   

2007

• Logrono U/20 A Grade Champion
• Leicester Senior Open Domestic Title
• Hamlet Senior Open Domestic Title 

2006

• Senior Commonwealth Champion
• Junior Commonwealth Champion
• Senior National Champion
• Junior National Champion
• Hamlet Senior Open Domestic Title

2005

• Under 17 World Champion
• Kenten U/14 international 2001
• Moneteau U/13 international 2000
• Senior National Champion
• Hamlet Senior Open Domestic title

2004

• Junior National Champion
• Kenten U/17 international 2004
• Hamlet Senior Open Domestic title 

2003

• Junior National Champion
• Cadet National Champion
• Hamlet Senior Open Domestic title 

Highlights

• Winning 15-14 to qualify for the Beijing Olympics Semi-final of the European Olympic Zonal Qualifier 2008 against Dmytro Boiko (Ukraine)
• Winning 15-7 at World Cadet Championships Final 2005 against Anton Kuksa (Ukraine)

Team Essex Ambassadorial Duties

• Working with Brentwood Schools Sports Partnership based at The Shenfield School 
• Journey to the Podium - Working with Sculptor Ben Dearnley

Impact of team Essex Ambassador Award

Other information

Alexander is a Left Swoord Arm fencer. He began fencing at 7 years old at Brentwood Preparatory School which has a long tradition in Fencing.

Quote from Alexander following Beijing:

"I was very excited to have qualified and been selected for the Beijing Olympics. My long term goal has always been to win a medal at London 2012 and on deciding to accept a place at Cambridge University, I accepted that this decision would not lend itself to qualifying for Beijing, but fortunately this was not the case. Despite narrowly losing 15-14 in Beijing it was an amazing experience and has ensured that I am now fully focused on my goal for London 2012.”
 

For more information visit: Alex's Blog

 

Alexander O'Connell's blog