Connor O'Leary

My name is Connor O'Leary. I was born in Seattle and raised in Utah, and I graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Communications. I have a passion for everything outdoors, and cycling especially.

I started racing competitively at 13 and worked my way up: the USA Junior National team, the U23 USA National team, and eventually one of the best professional development cycling teams in the world, Bontrager LIVESTRONG. Cycling led to opportunities and experiences that I never imagined, and at 19 I found myself living in Europe.

The diagnosis I wasn't expecting

Before I left for Europe, I went to a doctor because I had a mass on my testicle that I wanted checked. He told me I was fine and said to come back in a few years for another physical. So off I went.

The season started well, but I had this nagging feeling that something wasn't right. I was getting more fatigued than normal and had real discomfort. So I went to a different doctor. The last thing on earth I was expecting to hear was, "You have cancer."

The complication that almost ended it

During my second to last round of chemotherapy, I was rushed to the emergency room with blood clots that had exploded in both of my lungs. It almost killed me and created severe scar tissue buildup. I spent almost two weeks in intensive care while blood thinners worked to break down the clots. Hands down, it was one of the scariest weeks of my life.

Eventually I was released and finished my last few rounds of chemo. After treatment, I started rebuilding my fitness and stamina with the hope of getting back to the top of cycling. It was a long, hard road, but through hard work, determination, and a new outlook on life, I made it back to professional racing.

The Amazing Race

After my diagnosis and treatment, I realized how fragile life is. I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity, and one of those was The Amazing Race. I had watched the show since I was 15. I decided my best friend, my dad, was going to be my partner. We shot a three-minute application video, sent it in, and to make a long story short, we got picked.

Our first run was cut short on the second leg when my dad ruptured his Achilles tendon and tore his calf muscle. We pushed on with him on crutches, but he needed surgery, so on the fifth leg we withdrew.

Six months later, CBS called and asked if we wanted to come back for another season. We did, and this time we won.

Why I'm at TCF

I feel blessed to have raced professionally and to have won The Amazing Race, but I feel even more blessed to be able to say I am a cancer survivor. I have shared my story with organizations, corporations, schools, and religious groups around the country.

Coming on board with TCF is the opportunity I was looking for. Since my diagnosis I have thought a lot about what I can do to fight testicular cancer, to help prevent young men from going through what I did, or at least be a resource for someone who was diagnosed. Matt and the TCF team were one step ahead of me. Seeing what TCF was already doing is inspiring, and I just feel blessed to be part of it.

I am looking forward to getting started, and to saving lives.