Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy are back to back Olympic gold medal winners.
The Skibbereen pair successfully defended their Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls title in Paris.
O’Donovan becomes the first Irish person ever to medal at three different Olympic Games. While, Fintan McCarthy becomes the fifth Irish Olympians to have medalled at two Olympic separate Games.
“Oh it was always in doubt for everyone else, no one believed we could do it coming into this competition and against all the odds we stuck with it, trained hard” said O’Donovan.
“Italy today were the number one seeds and really put it up there. Greece were underdogs like ourselves also put in a big one and got on the podium, unfortunately Switzerland missed out after some early (season) performances.
“We’re very happy to have proved the doubters wrong (tongue in cheek). It's a good day for the Irish!”
O'Donovan wins third Olympic medal across three games
“Always the aim for sure” revealed McCarthy asked if gold was always the aim. “We said early in the week we had a rocky enough season, well I did. Paul is obviously as consistent as hell through the whole year”.
“It was just really nice to get a couple of good races under our belt early in the regatta. I was trying to keep under wraps the nerves and the doubts but coming out for the final there were no nerves”.
“We had some really good rounds, I really felt like we were back at our best for this race”.
“It's just amazing to be here in front of all our family and everyone supporting us, especially from the club.”
“I feel it’s been a crazy, crazy journey the last few years and honestly, the privilege of a lifetime to be rowing with Paul and under Dominic for my whole rowing career pretty much” added McCarthy. “It’s amazing.”
Until today Ireland had only ever won back-to-back Olympic gold once before; hammer thrower and fellow Corkonian Dr. Pat O’Callaghan achieved that feat in 1928 and 1932.
The full interview with our history-making rowers
Two and a half minutes well spent#RTESport #Paris2024 #rowing
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The Irish pair made their decisive move leading by half a boat length with 700 metres to go. They extended that lead through the last 500m to take glory with clear water over the Italian and Greek crews who needed a photo finish to separate them; the Italians snatching silver.
McCarthy and O’Donovan will remain forever the final Olympic Champions of the lightweight boat class, with it being dropped from the Olympic program in 2028.
