Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan are the pride of the nation right now as they secure Ireland’s first Olympic Gold medals since 2012.
There was success in Tokyo as two Irish rowers win Ireland’s first Olympic Gold medals since 2012.
Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan, both from Skibbereen in County Cork, were victorious this morning as they won the men’s lightweight double sculls in Tokyo this morning.
The rowers are the first Irish athletes to take home the Gold for Ireland since Katie Taylor’s famous victory almost a decade ago.
Victory in Tokyo – an amazing win for Ireland
The two Irish rowers have entered the history books today as they win Ireland’s first Olympic Gold medals since 2012.
The Cork athletes are the first male Gold medallists from Ireland since boxer Michael Carruth from Dublin took home the Gold in 1992.
The duo were the favourites going into the event after winning the 2019 World Rowing Championships.
Second time lucky – memories from Rio 2016
Despite the impressive victory, this is not O’Donovan’s first win at the world-famous games.
In 2016, O’Donovan took home the silver medal in the same event at the Rio Games, alongside his brother Gary. This year, Gary was the first reserve for Team Ireland behind McCarthy.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, President Michael D Higgins, and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar are among those leading tributes to the talented Irish rowers.
The results of hard work – intensive training
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, McCarthy revealed how he felt during his first Olympic final experience.
He said, “I didn’t feel that nervous. Usually, maybe there would be a little bit, but I think it was just that we’d kind of done pretty much everything we could to prepare.
“So, if it wasn’t going to go our way, it wasn’t because we had left any stone unturned.
“We’d done our best in training, we were going to put our best race out there, so it was kind of just go and do it.”
Well, their hard work certainly paid off as the two Irish rowers win Ireland’s first Olympic Gold medals since 2012.
Other Olympic hopefuls – hopes are high for Team Ireland
Following on from the success of the two Irish rowers, there are plenty of other athletes to watch out for at this year’s Games.
Irish boxer Kellie Harrington will be taking on Italy’s Rebecca Nicoli at tomorrow’s Women’s Lightweight Boxing.
Sanita Puspure ranked fifth in today’s women’s single sculls and will be competing in the final tomorrow.
Annalise Murphy is up four places after finishing in first and second in races seven and eight of the laser radial event.
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