Robert Dickson & Sean Waddilove, Tokyo and Paris Olympic 49er Sailors
Dublin dinghy sailors Robert Dickson of Howth Yacht Club and Sean Waddilove of Skerries Sailing Club achieved their goal of representing Ireland in the 49er class, almost six years to the day after first setting foot in a 49er skiff at their home club of Howth Yacht Club in County Dublin in 2015.
The voyage was a magnificent one becoming U23 World champions in 2018 before out sailing rivals double Olympian Ryan Seaton and Seafra Guilfoyle in some style for selection in Lanzarote in March 2021 to win the last European Olympic place for Tokyo.
ROBERT DICKSON
Age: 26
World Ranking: - Olympic Ranking: 27th
Hometown: Sutton, Dublin
Club: Howth Yacht Club
Coach: Matt McGovern
Robert is the Helm of a 49er that he sails with Seán Waddilove. The pair previously represented Ireland at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where they won two races. Rob learned to sail at an early age on the Shannon in an old wooden Optimist with his family. Like most young sailors in Ireland he ventured onto one of the summer courses in Lough Ree Yacht Club and from there began traveling Ireland and competing nationally at the age of 10.
A highlight for Rob from the last two years would be their 8th place at the 49er Europeans in 2023 that secured them Olympic Qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
- Paris 2024 Team Ireland Olympian
- 2023 Paris Olympic Qualification
- 2022 2nd Place Allianz World Cup, Almere, Netherlands
- Tokyo 2021 Team Ireland Olympian
- 2021 Two race wins Tokyo 2020
- 2021 3rd Lanzarote International Regatta and Qualification for Tokyo 2020
- 2021 8th Place, World Championships, Mussanah, Oman
- 2019 Bronze U23 49er World Championships, Norway
SEÁN WADDILOVE
Age: 25
World Ranking: - Olympic Ranking: 27th
Hometown: Skerries, Co. Dublin
Club: Skerries Sailing Club
Coach: Matt McGovern
Seán started sailing at the early age of 8 when his parents booked him onto a Taste of Sailing course in Skerries Sailing Club. In his own words he “fell in love with the sport and has been sailing ever since.”
Seán is the crew of a 49er he sails with Robert Dickson. The pair previously represented Ireland at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where they won two races. But their success as a pair started early when they became World U23 Champions in Marseille.
- Paris 2024 Team Ireland Olympian
- 2023 Paris Olympic Qualification
- 2022 2nd Place Allianz World Cup, Almere, Netherlands
- Tokyo 2021 Team Ireland Olympian
- 2021 Two race wins Tokyo 2020
- 2021 3rd Lanzarote International Regatta and Qualification for Tokyo 2020
- 2021 8th Place, World Championships, Mussanah, Oman
- 2019 Bronze U23 49er World Championships, Norway
A highlight for Sean would be qualifying for his second Olympics with a 5th-place finish at the 2024 European Championships, La Grande Motte, France.
