Tokyo 2020: Team Ireland profiles - Robert Dickson & Seán Waddilove (Sailing)

Men’s 49er crew first came to prominence with U-23 world championship win in 2018

Robert Dickson and Sean Waddilove on their way to winning bronze to qualify Ireland for the Tokyo Olympics in Lanzarote earlier this year. Photograph: Dave Branigan/Inpho

Robert Dickson

Age: 23

Event: Men's 49er

Club: Howth Yacht Club

From Sutton in Dublin, Dickson first showed his potential (with Seán Waddilove) when winning the 2018 Under-23 49er World Championships in Marseille, and with that the pair were named 2018 Volvo Irish Sailor of the Year. Heading into their first Olympic Games, Dickson and Waddilove are no strangers to success, their qualification for Tokyo coming courtesy of a stellar performance in the 49er Olympic qualifying event in Lanzarote last March, the last opportunity to secure an Olympic berth. Currently studying in Sports Science and Health in DCU with a Sports Scholarship.

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Sean Waddilove and Robert Dickson will compete at their first Olympics.

Seán Waddilove

Age: 24

Event: Men's 49er

Club: Skerries Sailing Club and Howth Yacht Club

With Dickson, Waddilove also first underlined his potential in winning that Under-23 49er World Championships, before earning that qualifying spot in Lanzarote. A dominant start to the event saw the crew gain enough points to win the Olympic berth in the preliminary rounds, before they competed in the medal race. Currently studying International Business and Languages and awarded a sports scholarship at TU (Technology University). The sailing events in Tokyo are set for Enoshima Yacht Harbour with Ireland’s trio of sailors continuing the Irish representation at every Games since 1948 with the exception of Mexico 1968.

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan

Ian O'Riordan is an Irish Times sports journalist writing on athletics