Scott Flanigan represented Ireland alongside Ger Owens in the men’s 470 class dinghy sailing at the 2012 London Olympic Games, competing at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy at the age of 19 – one of the youngest competitors at the sailing venue.

From Malahide, Co. Dublin, Flanigan is a member of Malahide Yacht Club and attended Wesley College, where he excelled at hockey, badminton and football alongside sailing. He progressed through the Optimist, Laser and 420 classes before stepping up to the 470. In a striking twist, Ger Owens – his Olympic partner – had previously served as his sailing coach before the pair teamed up to campaign together for London. Flanigan had watched Owens racing in Beijing in 2008 aged just 15.

They qualified for London at the 470 World Championships in Barcelona, making the gold fleet to secure their Olympic berth. The combination of Owens’s extensive experience and Flanigan’s emerging talent made them one of the most intriguing Irish pairings at the Games.