From 1 July 2025, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (CITS) replaces the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC).
Intro
Photo: by Ben Zeimes
The past month alone saw the 17-year-old Wright claim the overall Margaret River Cape to Cape MTB title, along with being named the 2024-2025 South West Academy of Sport (SWAS) Sport Star of the Year.
He was also a finalist for WA Institute of Sport (WAIS) Young Athlete of the Year at the 2025 WAIS Awards of Excellence.
This all followed his return from Switzerland where he made his debut at the under-19 category at the UCI World Championships for cross-country Olympic mountain biking, finishing with an impressive 6th place.
Before his move to the South West, Connor’s introduction to the sport while growing up in South Africa was rather unorthodox.
“I learned how to ride a motorbike before I learned how to ride a bicycle, but I probably started riding a mountain bike when I was 4 or 5 and started competing when I was 6,” he said.
“From a very young age, I always looked up to elite riders winning world championships, I still look up to Nino Schurter massively.”
This year, the teenager secured 2 major international wins, first on the road at the prestigious Gran Premio della Liberazione UCI Junior race in Italy followed by a mountain bike win at Germany’s Bike the Rock UCI Cross Country Olympic XCO, which is part of the Junior World Series.
“It’s a big step up from racing in Australia, but I found it suited me,” Wright said.
Wright also became a tier 1 scholarship holder for the 2026 Sport Aus Hall of Fame scholarship and mentoring program, where he will be mentored by cricket legend Adam Gilchrist.
The talented rider has been supported by SWAS through strength and conditioning, fitness testing, nutrition, workshops, gym memberships, recovery and coaching.
The WA Government is proud to back SWAS and other high performance regional centres across the state through its Regional Athlete Support Program.
Looking ahead, Wright is set on the Olympics with 2028 in Los Angeles and 2032 in Brisbane the ambition.
“Representing Australia at a home Olympics would be a dream come true.”
It’s all uphill or downhill for Connor, but in the best way possible.