Willie Ryan (rower)

{{short description|Irish rower}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Willie Ryan

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| nationality = Irish

| sport = Rowing

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|9|28|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

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| relatives = Ted Ryan (brother)
Caroline Ryan (daughter)

}}

Willie Ryan (born 28 September 1953) is an Irish rower. He competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics and the 1980 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ry/willie-ryan-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418083121/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ry/willie-ryan-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Willie Ryan Olympic Results |accessdate=25 August 2018}}

Willie and his brother Ted are originally from Darrara, County Cork however he now lives in Kildare. He was a member of An Garda Siochana and only began rowing when he joined the police force.https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/local-news/214078/prosperous-man-willie-ryan-recalls-olympic-rowing-journey-of-40-years-ago.html

His daughter Caroline was also a very successful athlete being the first Irish woman to win a trophy at Henley Royal Regatta and later switching to cycling where she represented Ireland.https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/where-are-they-now/26743818.html