Sean Whitaker competed in the men’s Tempest class two-person keelboat at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games alongside David Wilkins, finishing 8th of 21 boats in a shoestring self-financed student campaign that matched the best Irish result in Olympic sailing since 1960.

A member of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and a Trinity College Dublin student, Whitaker was recruited by Wilkins from the Dublin University rugby football club for his power, bulk and crewing ability. The Wilkins-Whitaker partnership won race five and held a substantial lead in race six before being totally becalmed and falling down the field.

Their 8th place was a remarkable result for such an inexperienced and under-resourced combination.