Bentsen, who became an Olympic gold medallist 49 years ago along with second crew member Bill Allen in the soling event, was confirmed dead on December 25.

He was also a bronze medallist at the Tokyo 1964 Games in the flying dutchman category as a crewmate to Buddy Melges, finishing behind New Zealand and Britain.

A Chicago native, Bentsen grew up sailing at the Lake Geneva Yacht Club in the 1940s and two decades later decided to try and enter the Olympics with Melges for 1964, where they won their medal.

He held a Ph.D in economics from the University of Wisconsin and was known for his studious approach to sailing to improve his boats.

Bentsen and Melges won the gold medal at the 1967 Pan American Games before Bentsen won Olympic gold with Allen in 1972.

Following his elite career, he was a member of the United States Sailing Association Racing Rules Committee from 1972 to 2008.

The 2005-2008 edition of the racing rules of sailing was dedicated to him for his service.

Much of his work from the 1970s and 1980s is now part of the modern sailing racing rules.

He was also inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2017.