Heat Race Recap
On August 30th, at 9:50 IST, Katie O’Brien and Tiarnán O’Donnell took to the waters of Vaires-sur-Marnes at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, competing in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls event. The Irish double faced a tough challenge, finishing in 4th place in their heat. This result meant they would need to go through the repechage to secure a spot in the A final. China and Israel clinched the top two spots in the heat, securing their places in the final.
Despite the setback, Katie O’Brien and Tiarnán O’Donnell remained determined. Tiarnán O’Donnell emphasised the importance of analysing their performance and focusing on the next race. “We just have to apply what we’ve done in training and reproduce it in the race. If we’re in the mix in the last 500 meters, we need to back ourselves and empty the tank,” he said.
Katie O’Brien, reflecting on the race, noted that they shifted their focus to the repechage after realising they were trailing. “We dropped off a little bit around the 800m mark. We decided to prioritize recovery and tomorrow’s race once we saw the other crews pulling ahead,” she explained.
Repechage Performance
In the repechage held on August 31st at 9:50 IST, Katie O’Brien and Tiarnán O’Donnell once again faced a formidable lineup, including teams from France, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Ukraine. Only the top two boats would progress to the A final, with the rest moving to the B final.
The Irish crew put in a valiant effort, improving their time by more than 20 seconds from the heat, crossing the finish line in 8:40.85. However, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the A final, as France and Ukraine claimed the coveted top two positions. Despite the disappointment, their improvement in time and performance was a positive takeaway.
B Final and Overall Standing
Katie O’Brien and Tiarnán O’Donnell returned to the water for the B final, where they delivered a remarkable performance, finishing 2nd and securing an 8th place overall in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls at the 2024 Paralympic Games. This result is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and resilience, especially considering the challenges they faced in the lead-up to the Games.
Reflecting on their journey, O’Brien shared her optimism for the future, highlighting the potential they showed despite limited preparation time. “It’s so positive for us looking forward. With just four weeks of training, we produced a result like that” she said.
O’Donnell echoed these sentiments, emphasizing their commitment and the incredible support they received. “The support has been unrelenting. It’s so true – we have the best supporters in the world” he told RTÉ Sport.
