Alumni profile - Connor Bray

1 September 2026

Connor graduated from Queen Mary with a BSc in Accounting and Finance in 2026. Alongside his studies, he has represented Great Britain internationally in figure skating since 2012. He is now preparing to begin an LLM in International Tax Law at Queen Mary’s Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) while continuing his skating career.

In this blog, Connor reflects on the resilience he has developed through figure skating, balancing elite sport with university, and his career in accounting and taxation.

 

What are some of your favourite memories from Queen Mary?

Some of my favourite memories from Queen Mary came from my Foundation Certificate. One of the things I really enjoyed was taking part in the field trips, which gave us the opportunity to explore parts of London while learning outside the classroom. I particularly remember visiting the Greenwich Maritime Museum and taking part in a walking tour to see local history and public art, including the Cable Street Mural in Shadwell.

What made those experiences even more memorable was the people. My foundation programme was very international, with students from all over the world and from a wide range of backgrounds. During the walks, we naturally started talking about our different cultures, education systems, and life experiences. Some students had come from very privileged backgrounds, while others had overcome significant challenges, including a few who had arrived in the UK as refugees. Listening to everyone's stories gave me a much broader perspective on the world and reminded me that everyone has their own unique journey.

Looking back, those moments stand out because they were about much more than studying. London is a fast-paced city, and it's easy to become focused only on lectures, work, and deadlines. The foundation programme encouraged us to slow down, explore the city, and learn from the people around us.

You've represented Great Britain internationally since 2012. What has that journey been like?

Representing Great Britain has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, but it has also been one of the most emotionally challenging experiences.

One of the biggest lessons sport has taught me is that success is never guaranteed. In my studies, if I prepare well, stay organised and use the right methods, I can usually expect my hard work to be reflected in my results. Figure skating is very different. You can train every day, consistently land a difficult element in practice, and then miss it in competition. Unlike many sports, you only have one chance to perform; there are no second attempts.

One competition that stands out was the 2023 ISU Junior Grand Prix in France. I had a very disappointing short programme and felt as though I hadn't progressed for almost two years, despite all the hours I had invested in training. I remember thinking about quitting. In fact, there have been several points in my career when I wanted to give up. What I am most proud of, however, is what happened the next day. I woke up, went back to practice, and continued training as if nothing had happened. Looking back, I think those difficult moments taught me something much more valuable than any medal could. They taught me how to keep moving forward after disappointment.

Perhaps the hardest challenge I faced was breaking my leg when I was around 15 years old. Even now, eight years later, I still have some limitations in my leg mobility. Sitting in a hospital bed for such a long time left me feeling empty because skating had always been such a big part of my identity. Ironically, that injury made me realise just how much I loved the sport. Although I had wanted to quit after difficult competitions, being unable to skate at all showed me that I truly wanted to come back.

Looking back over my journey since 2012, I realise that representing Great Britain has given me much more than competitive experience. It has taught me resilience, patience, and perseverance. Those lessons have shaped not only the athlete I have become, but also the student and person I am today.

Those difficult moments taught me something much more valuable than any medal could. They taught me how to keep moving forward after disappointment.

Balancing a demanding degree with representing Great Britain in figure skating must have required a lot of discipline. How did you manage your studies alongside training and competing?

Balancing my degree with representing Great Britain in figure skating required a great deal of discipline, but it also meant making many sacrifices. While many of my friends were able to go out after classes or accept last-minute invitations to social events, I often had to decline because I knew I would be waking up at around 5am the next morning for training. It wasn't always easy, but over time it became part of my routine and something I accepted as necessary to pursue both of my goals.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was how to make the most of every spare moment. Travelling for competitions could easily have become lost study time, so I made sure it didn't. I always travelled with my laptop, and if I was flying, I would purchase in-flight Wi-Fi so I could continue studying or complete assignments during the journey. At competitions, I would use the time between official practice sessions, or even the evenings after competing, to revise or work from my hotel room.

I also made use of the smaller pockets of time throughout each day. For example, I often watched YouTube videos explaining topics from my modules or reviewed lecture materials while travelling on the Elizabeth line. Those short periods might only have been 20 or 30 minutes at a time, but consistently using them over four years made a significant difference.

Looking back, I believe success came from being organised and making the most of the time I had, rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity to study. By maintaining that approach throughout my time at Queen Mary, I graduated with a Distinction in the Foundation Certificate and a high First-Class degree in Accounting and Finance.

From September 2026, I will begin the LLM in International Tax Law at Queen Mary's Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS). I know balancing postgraduate study with skating will bring new challenges, but I plan to continue with the same mindset. My goal has always been to make the most of my abilities, keep improving, and see how far hard work and consistency can take me.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was how to make the most of every spare moment.

Looking back on your skating journey so far, what moments are you most proud of, and why?

Looking back on my skating journey, I think what makes me most proud has changed over the years. When I first started skating, I was surrounded by many skaters who were much better than me. I looked up to them, watched what they did and tried to take elements of their strengths and skills into my own skating. When I was younger, my proudest moments were often linked to results and achievements. I remember being extremely proud when I achieved high scores in competitions because it felt like all the hours of daily practice had finally paid off. I also still remember landing my first double Axel in competition after around three or four years of skating. Although that jump feels much easier for me now, at that time it was a huge achievement.

However, as I have grown older, I think my definition of being proud has changed. Nowadays, some of the moments that mean the most to me are much smaller and more personal. When I train at the ice rink in Romford, sometimes after practice, young skaters, children or their parents come up to me and say things like, "I really enjoy watching you skate," "I want to skate like you," or "I want to be able to do what you just did." Those comments mean a lot to me because they remind me of myself when I was around 10 years old, looking up to older and more experienced skaters in exactly the same way.

To realise that I have become someone who can inspire others is something I am very proud of. It shows me that my journey has come full circle. At the beginning, I was learning from others and trying to catch up. Now, I have reached a point where my own journey can encourage someone else.

Figure skating has been a huge part of your life. How have your family, friendships and studies shaped who you are today?

Figure skating has shaped who I am in so many ways because it's never just been about the sport itself. It's been closely connected to my family, the people I've met along the way, and my experience as a university student.

My family has always been my biggest source of support, especially my mother, who has played the most important role in my skating journey. We didn't come from a wealthy background, so pursuing figure skating was not always easy. My mother made many of my skating costumes by hand, spending countless hours sewing so that I could compete and feel confident on the ice.

Her support went far beyond the costumes. She drove me to training every morning before school, often waking up incredibly early to prepare food for my morning practices and making sure I had everything I needed to continue pursuing my goals. She dedicated so much of her own time and energy to my journey, often putting my dreams before her own comfort.

Looking back, those costumes, early mornings, and countless sacrifices represent much more than the practical support she gave me. They represent her love, commitment, and belief in me. Her example taught me the importance of hard work, resilience, and gratitude, and to never take the opportunities I have been given for granted.

Bringing together my family, my friendships, and my studies has made me the person I am today. They've taught me perseverance, discipline, and gratitude, but also the importance of having people around you who believe in you.

Looking back, I realise that while medals and achievements are important, it's the people who stood beside me throughout the journey who have had the greatest impact on my life.

Now that you've graduated, what are your ambitions for both your professional career and your skating over the next few years?

During the summer after my second year, I had the opportunity to work full-time as an Associate Accountant at an international accounting firm. During my third year, I continued working at the same firm on a part-time basis. My work included tax compliance, audit, and tax planning for both individuals and offshore entities, which gave me valuable practical experience and helped me understand how the concepts I was learning at university were applied in a professional setting.

Looking ahead, I hope to continue building a career in accounting and taxation. One of my priorities is to find a role that supports me in completing the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification while allowing me to develop further expertise in tax and audit. I am also interested in research-focused roles, whether within a university or a policy organisation such as a think tank, particularly in areas related to international tax law, tax compliance, and cross-border regulation.

From September 2026, I will begin the LLM in International Tax Law at Queen Mary's CCLS. I believe combining a BSc in Accounting and Finance with an LLM in International Tax Law will give me a unique interdisciplinary perspective, bringing together accounting, finance and law. In the future, I would love to build my career either in London or in my home country of Japan, particularly in Tokyo.

As for skating, although I know that competing at an elite level cannot last forever, I would like to remain involved in the sport for many years to come. I am currently in the process of applying to become an International Skating Union (ISU) Technical Specialist. The ISU is the international governing body for figure skating and speed skating, and Technical Specialists are responsible for identifying and calling the technical elements performed by skaters during competitions.

After dedicating so much of my life, time, and my family's resources to figure skating, I would like to give something back to the sport. Becoming an ISU Technical Specialist would allow me to continue representing Great Britain in a different capacity, supporting the next generation of skaters while staying connected to the sport that has shaped so much of my life.

What advice would you give to students who are trying to balance university with pursuing an ambitious goal outside the classroom?

My biggest piece of advice is to remember that consistency is more important than trying to do everything perfectly. When you're balancing university with an ambitious goal outside the classroom, time is your most valuable resource, so learning how to use it well makes a huge difference.

The other piece of advice I would give is not to compare yourself with other people. London is an incredibly diverse city, and you'll meet students from all kinds of backgrounds. It's easy to fall into the habit of comparing yourself, but I don't think that's productive.

Instead, compare yourself with the person you were a year ago. Ask yourself, "What can I do today that I couldn't do last year?" If the answer is that you've learned a new skill, become more resilient, gained more confidence or overcome challenges that once seemed impossible, then you've made real progress.

I've also found it helpful to focus on what I can control. I can't control other people's achievements, the opportunities they have, competition results or what has already happened in the past. What I can control is how I prepare, how I respond to setbacks, and the effort I put in every day.

Whether your goal is academic, sporting or something completely different, keep working hard and trust your own journey. Success doesn't always happen as quickly as we would like, and your progress may not always look impressive to others. What matters is that you continue moving forward. If you stay focused on improving yourself rather than comparing yourself with everyone else, you'll be surprised by how far you can go.

Whether your goal is academic, sporting or something completely different, keep working hard and trust your own journey.

 

You can watch Connor represent Great Britain at the 2022 ISU Junior Grand Prix in Riga in his men’s short programme.