The winter Olympics are due to start on the 4th of February in Beijing and will run until the 20th of February. As part of the run-up to the start of the games, we look back on a rower that competed for Ireland in three Olympics!

Patrick McDonagh represented Ireland in rowing at the 1980 Olympics (Moscow), 1988 Olympics (Seoul), and in Bobsleigh at the 1992 Olympics. Pat competed in a men’s coxed four alongside Iain Kennedy, Ted Ryan, Davey Gray and Noel Graham, the men’s crew finished 11th overall.

Pat competed again for Ireland at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul in the men’s coxed pairs, alongside Frank Moore and Liam Williams. The Irish crew just finished outside the top eleven.

Pat then went onto the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Pat competed in Bobsleigh alongside Terry McHugh. Pat and Terry finished 32nd overall in Pat’s third and final Olympics.

Pat also represented Ireland as the flagbearer at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Pat recently sat down with Team Ireland to talk about his experience as the Team Ireland Flagbearer.