Rory Fitzpatrick represented Ireland in the men’s Laser dinghy at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, competing at the Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre and finishing 30th overall.

From Dublin and a member of the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dún Laoghaire, Fitzpatrick graduated from University College Dublin. His legacy in Irish sailing extended well beyond his own Olympic appearance – after retiring from competition he became one of Ireland’s most successful sailing coaches, serving as Irish Sailing Association Olympic coach and subsequently as head coach of Irish Sailing Performance.

He is best known for his long and fruitful partnership with Annalise Murphy, whom he coached through an extraordinarily productive period that included a fourth place finish at the London 2012 Olympics – the closest Ireland had come to an Olympic sailing medal since 1980 – and a silver medal at Rio 2016, Ireland’s first Olympic sailing medal in 36 years.

He also guided Murphy to European Championship gold. He was jointly awarded the Philips Sports Manager of the Month award for August 2016 alongside rowing coach Morten Espersen, in recognition of the silver medals won by Murphy and by the O’Donovan brothers at those Games.