Connor Taras

{{short description|Canadian kayaker}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = | imagesize = | caption = | nationality = | sport = Canoeing |disability = |disability_class = | event = | club = | coach = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1989}} | birth_place = Waverley, Nova Scotia, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | retired= | height = | weight = | pb = | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{flagu|Canada}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalSilver|2011 Guadalajara|K4 1000m}} }}

'''Connor Taras''' is a Canadian sport kayaker from Waverley, Nova Scotia,<ref name=out>"For kayaker Connor Taras, coming out was ultimate victory". ''Toronto Star'', July 22, 2014.</ref> who was a silver medalist with the Canadian Men's K-4 1000 metres team at the 2011 Pan American Games.<ref>"Canada takes medals in bowling, kayak, karate, judo and fencing; count at 97". ''National Post'', October 28, 2011.</ref> He also competed in the Men's K-1 200 metres, finishing sixth. In the 2025 Ontario general election, Taras was the Ontario Liberal Party candidate for the riding of Toronto—Danforth (provincial electoral district).

== Education and career == Taras was educated at Mount Saint Vincent University, studying marketing.<ref name="out" />

He tried out for the Canadian kayaking team for the 2012 Summer Olympics, but missed qualifying by 0.6 seconds.<ref name="out" /> After struggling with his sexual orientation for a number of years, Taras began coming out as gay to friends and family in 2013.<ref name="out" /> According to Taras, the freedom to be open about his sexual orientation made him a better athlete; in the same year, he successfully shaved a full 12 seconds off his personal best time.<ref name="out" />

In 2015, Taras announced his retirement from competitive sport. He served as coordinator of ceremonies for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario,<ref>[http://www.dailyxtra.com/toronto/news-and-ideas/news/much-work-needed-ensure-lgbt-athletes-can-121274 "Much work needed to ensure LGBT athletes can be themselves"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810200704/http://www.dailyxtra.com/toronto/news-and-ideas/news/much-work-needed-ensure-lgbt-athletes-can-121274 |date=2015-08-10 }}. ''Daily Xtra'', August 7, 2015.</ref> and is an ambassador for the Canadian Olympic Committee's OneTeam initiative to combat homophobia in sports.<ref>[http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150623/canadian-athletes-helping-others-step-out-of-shadows "Canadian athletes helping others step out of shadows"]. ''Oakland Press'', June 23, 2015.</ref>

==References== {{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taras, Connor}} Category:Canadian male canoeists Category:Canadian gay sportsmen Category:Canoeists at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:People from the Halifax Regional Municipality Category:Living people Category:Mount Saint Vincent University alumni Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for Canada in canoeing Category:1989 births Category:LGBTQ canoeists Category:Medalists at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people Category:Sportspeople from Nova Scotia