Team Ireland’s Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy, both of Skibbereen Rowing Club, have made history by winning gold in the Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls (LW2x) final with a time of 6:10.99. Their sensational performance in Paris has elevated them to legendary status in Irish rowing.
Paul O’Donovan’s victory marks a historic achievement as he becomes the first Irish athlete ever to medal at three different Olympic Games. His accomplishments in Rio, Tokyo, and now Paris, set a new benchmark in Irish sporting history. Fintan McCarthy, not to be outdone, joins the exclusive club of Irish Olympians who have medaled at two separate Games, a distinction already held by O’Donovan.
Coached by Dominic Casey of Skibbereen Rowing Club, O’Donovan and McCarthy have become the first back-to-back Olympic champions in Irish rowing history. Their journey and dedication have set a new standard for Irish rowing excellence.
After the race, O’Donovan expressed gratitude for the incredible support from the Irish fans: “We had brilliant support. The grandstands were green, there were tricolours everywhere. That was really great to see, all over from Skibbereen and all over Ireland. Even the French volunteers in the boat park, and from a load of other countries as well that had crews in this event were really cheering us on this morning and all week, so we really appreciated the support, it’s fantastic.”
McCarthy echoed his teammate’s sentiments, adding: “Support is amazing, it feels like there’s more in the Irish stands than any other. Just coming in after that race and seeing all the familiar faces! So amazing and great to finally give back a bit for all the years of support they’ve given us. I didn’t feel very nervous today at all. I was kinda worried that I should be (nervous) but we really had a great regatta so far so that really calmed the nerves and we just tried to get the job done.”
Margaret & Aoife Shine in Paris with Strong Performance in LW2x
The Irish duo started the race with determination, positioning themselves near the front and staying in contention for the second and third positions. Their strong start was a testament to their hard work and preparation, as they held their ground through the first half of the race. It was in the third quarter where the competition intensified, and the Irish crew drifted back slightly. Despite this, they maintained their composure and crossed the finish line in fifth place with a time of 6:54.57, a significant achievement on the Olympic stage. Margaret and Aoife’s performance in Paris highlights their growth and determination, making Ireland proud and setting a strong foundation for future success in rowing.
Mags Cremen gave her reaction: “We just wanted to go out and put ourselves in the best position at every marker and I think from the word go we gave it our best ever stroke. I suppose making the final was such a big goal for us but then when you’re in the final, the expectations of yourselves gets more and more. We definitely did our best every single stroke and really proud of our result.“
Aoife Casey added: “It’s just such a cruel sport that way that you’re so close but you’re so far when the buzzer goes but we’re so proud of how far we’ve come and all the training we’ve done and that we were able to put out such a good performance today, even though we’re not coming away with a medal. We’re coming away with such good memories for life.”
Ross and Nathan Give Their All in Men’s Pair Final
Nathan Timoney and Ross Corrigan left it all out on the water in the final of the Men’s Pair (M2-), securing a sixth-place finish with a time of 6:30.49. From the start, Ireland demonstrated their determination by going out with the highest stroke rate, hitting 51 strokes per minute in their opening strokes.
In a nail-biting first half, there was absolutely nothing separating the crews in third to fifth place. Great Britain took an early lead, with Romania hot on their heels. As the race progressed into the third 500 meters, the competition remained fierce, with just bow balls separating the crews. In a strong finish, the Irish pair managed to squeeze closer to the crews ahead, but it wasn’t enough to move into the podium positions. Their performance in Paris highlights their tenacity and dedication, making Ireland proud and promising future success in rowing.
Timoney shared his thoughts on the final: “It wasn’t the race we wanted, it wasn’t really a replication of the semi-final or the heats. We struggled to find the finesse out there today, we struggled to find the step up, that extra gear. It’s a tough pill to swallow but certainly a lot of lessons we can take from it. It doesn’t stop here. We’ll move forward, we’ll go home and think about it and reflect.”
“We’re quite young, we’re racing people like the Grecians who are exceptional athletes, almost twice our ages and we look up to those guys and even being in the mix, to race against those lads, it’s incredible and something we can take away from it but, yeah, tough pill to swallow. We’re not satisfied with the result.”
Corrigan added: “Sometimes you go out with all the intent in the world but rowing’s one of those sports where it’s not brute force and it’s not art either, it’s a mixture in between and it’s a fine balance. If we were leading the race we might have said that was an amazing race and the best we could have produced but I think, we probably thought we’d get the jump on a few boys off the start like we did last year and lead to the 500m but we kinda got caught off-guard at the start.
“We worked for it and were trying to get on the podium but like, at the end of the day it’s an Olympic final and good performances put out there by everyone and unfortunately we weren’t on the right side of things. So many positives to take from it. We’re both pushing on for LA anyway and we’ll see what happens…we’re delighted to be part of such a high standard team who push for medals because that’s the main thing.”
Galway’s Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh Finish Eighth Overall in Women’s Pair (W2-)
Galway’s Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh secured an impressive second-place finish in the B Final of the Women’s Pair (W2-), clocking in at 7:08.88 and finishing eighth overall. The race began with Chile and Spain taking the early lead, while Ireland sat in fourth place. The Abraham sisters from Chile held the first position until the halfway mark, but it was then that Murtagh and Keogh found their rhythm and shifted into a higher gear.
In an impressive second half, the Irish pair surged past the Chilean crew and closed the gap on the leading Spanish double. Despite their strong finish and rapid gain on the leaders, they crossed the line in second place, just a length shy of first. Their performance in the B Final showcased their determination and teamwork, securing a commendable overall standing in the competition.
These accomplishments are a testament to the hard work, dedication, and pursuit of excellence by the athletes and their coaches. Our rowing achievements in Paris not only bring glory to our country but also inspires future generations of rowers, promising continued success and growth in the sport.
