Bernard Luttikhuizen played water polo in high school, but when he started studying civil engineering in Delft, he soon became a member of student rowing club Proteus-Eretes. As a member of the club’s four, he placed a close second at the Dutch Championships in 1970, missing out on the World Championship qualifying spot. The following season, he switched to stroke position in the coxed pairs, and won the Dutch title with René Kieft on bow and cox Herman Zaanen. At the 1971 Open European Championships in København, their boat reached the final, placing sixth. The following year, they also qualified for the Olympic Games, but could not repeat their success as they were eliminated by a clear margin in the repêchages. Retiring from competitive rowing after the Games and graduating, Luttikhuizen worked as a civil engineer and eventually founded his own engineering agency. Many years later he returned to rowing, competing in masters competitions well into his 70s. Suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, he died at 78.
Netherlands