Brian Hamilton competed in the fencing at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games as a member of the Dublin University Fencing Club, taking part in the individual and team foil, épée and sabre events.

The six Irish fencers in Rome competed with the support of a distinguished international coaching panel – the Hungarian Professor Imergy, Belgian coach Maitre Piedfer and British national coach Professor Anderson – representing six different clubs.

Hamilton was among the younger members of the squad, alongside Christopher Bland and Shirley Armstrong, who had each fulfilled the IAFF selection committee’s requirements by reaching the semi-final round in at least one international tournament outside Ireland during the season.