Toronto’s Connor Campbell wins debating world championship

On April 3rd, Connor Campbell, 17, was given just 30 minutes to prepare for his 9-minute argument at the grand finale at the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in Brisbane, Australia.

The Toronto teen - Campbell is an honours student at De La Salle College - impressed with his pros and cons of NATO intervention in Afghanistan, earning the top prize in debating at the international competition, the Toronto Star reports.

Campbell delivered his first formal address in the fifth grade. Since then, he's mastered the art of the argument.

"Connor's been in front of so many judges over the years that he just can read the audience in terms of how they're responding. He looks for a nod or a smile or even a laugh," Campbell's debate coach, Santino Bellisario, told the Star.

Campbell admits that international competitions can be intimidating, but the grade 11 student remains focused on the task:

"I'm just going to keep on doing what I feel comfortable with," he said. "I know where my strengths lie as a debater and I'm going to bring those forward."

Canada dominated the championships, with 11 of its competitors ranking in the top 20 best speakers.

Finalists from each category at the competition then battled it out for top spot overall. Winnipeg's Ryan Pistorius, second-place winner in the interpretative reading category, was crowned overall world champion.