Conner Maggs

18

YEARS OLD

NSW

NEWPORT SLSC

14th

2022/23 SERIES

swim

STRENGTH

Stats

Name: Conner Maggs (Maggsy)
Competitive club: Newport SLSC
Original Club: Manly LSC
Best round of 2022/23: Round 6, 6th
Best series finish: 2022/23 Nutri-Grain Series, 14th
Aussie title(s): 2023 - U17 Swim, U17 Board, U17 Ski, U17 Iron, U17 Taplin, U17 Swim Team, U17 Ski Relay, Open Board Rescue 2022 - U17 Taplin, U17 Swim Team 2021 - U15 Swim, U15 Taplin, U15 Board Rescue, U15 Board Relay

Bio

Moving to Australia from Johannesburg when he was eight years old, Conner Maggs is a young IronMan who is already making waves. Maggs is coming off an incredible season which saw him named the SLSA Surf Sports Youth Athlete of the Year. He was voted Male Competitor of the 2023 Australian Life Saving Championships, after he became the first ever athlete to win the U17 Swim, Board, SKi and Ironperson races at the same National competition. Maggs now has his sights set on a Nutri-Grain Series Round win, a Coolangatta Gold trophy, and an Open Australian Ironman title. Outside of surf sports, Maggs has just completed his HSC and is an avid NBA, rugby union and UFC fan.

Conner, how old were you when you started surf lifesaving and why?

I moved from South Africa to Sydney at the age of eight with my family. I remember coming down to the beach and I saw little nippers running into the water to catch waves. I begged my parents to get me involved in surf sports.

Who was your hero growing up in and out of surf lifesaving?

Growing up I looked up to guys such as Shannon Eckstein, Ky Hurst, Caine Eckstein and Ali Day.

What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?

“Keep putting yourself at the front of races and eventually a wave will come, train hard, race smart and everything will fall into place,” –
James Brooks

Your advice for aspiring Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain athletes?

Train hard, race smart and stay consistent and be disciplined, no mistakes win races.

What do you think about during a race?

Positioning around the cans, what the surf is doing, where are my competitors and focusing on not making mistakes.

Conner, what has been a high and low in your IronMan journey?

High – Qualified for my first series at 17 and making history winning all individual races at Aussies

Low – still not being able to race at Alex Summer of surf as I was an u17

Do you have any secret talents?

I can name every single Nutri-Grain Series and Round winner from 2011-12 to 2022-23.

What is your go to meal the night before a carnival/race day?

Love a good steak or a kebab, the best most nutritious meal.