Seán Drea

Seán Joseph Drea (born 3 March 1947 ) is a former Olympic rower and world record holder from Ireland, specialising in the single scull. He won the Diamond Challenge Sculls (the premier singles sculls event) three years in a row at the Henley Royal Regatta, where he set the course record, and was the first Irish rower to win a World Championship medal securing silver in the 1975 World Championships.

Biography Drea lives in Greystones, and is originally from Bagenalstown, County Carlow. He tried many sports before joining Neptune Rowing Club after moving to Dublin to work and was the favorite for the World Championships in Rotsee; however he withdrew for an emergency kidney stone removal. At the 1975 World Championships, he finished second to Peter-Michael Kolbe. Fairmount Rowing Association, La Salle University and subsequently the Irish National team. He also rowed in the Head of the River Race in 1997 with a veteran Schuylkill Navy crew. Today, Drea lives in Greystones, County Wicklow, Ireland and runs an organic farming business.

Sean's son Jack Drea rowed for Oxford Brookes University and won the Temple Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2006 and competed in the Ladies Challenge Plate in an Oxford Brookes & Oxford University composite in 2007. Jack also represented Ireland in rowing.

Sean’s eldest son David Drea rowed for Trinity College Dublin.

Record Year Event Place Ref 1970 Henley QF 1970 Worlds 12 1972 Henley 2 1972 Olympics 7 1974 Henley 1 1975 Henley 1 1975 Worlds 2 1976 Olympics 4