| Wally O'Connor | |
| Fullname: | James Wallace O'Connor |
| National Team: | United States |
| Strokes: | Freestyle, water polo |
| Club: | Los Angeles Athletic Club |
| Collegeteam: | Stanford University |
| Birth Date: | August 25, 1903 |
| Birth Place: | Madera, California, U.S. |
| Death Place: | West Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Show-Medals: | yes |
James Wallace O'Connor (August 25, 1903 – October 11, 1950) was an American competition swimmer and water polo player who played internationally for the United States at four Olympiads: at the 1924, 1928, 1932 and 1936.[1]
In team sport at the 1924 Summer Olympics, a gold medal was won in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay event. With the national water polo team a bronze medal was won; he played one match.
At the 1928 Summer Olympics bronze medal match, they lost to France. He played two matches and scored one goal.
At the 1932 Summer Olympics they won a bronze medal. He played all four matches.
At the 1936 Summer Olympics they won one and lost two matches in the preliminary group of the water polo tournament. He played all three matches. He was honored as the national flag bearer at the opening ceremonies. He made a fifth Olympic team in 1940, but the war in Europe prevented those Games from being held.[2]
In 1976, he was inducted into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame.[3] [4]