SEAN, 81, RACING TO POST-EVENT FUNCTIONS
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 on Friday.
He will line up in the Beach Mile at Kurrawa (November 7), the 5km road race (Wednesday), 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.
“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.
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 since 1996, except for 2002.
This one, he says, could be a “swan song” – possibly.
“I do it for fun,” he said of competing.
“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 actual 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.”