‘I’ve never seen anything like it’: Irish Olympic rowers move into rare company but may yet be joined by othersIrish rowers Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy bridged a 92-year gap when they won the lightweight double sculls at the Olympic Games. Following on from their success in Tokyo three years ago, the Skibbereen pair on Friday became the first Irish athletes to successfully defend Olympic gold since Dr Pat O’Callaghan won in the hammer event in 1928 and 1932.
“I think for sure we’re very happy to do it,” said O’Donovan about defending their title. “But believe me there will be a lot more Irish athletes who will do it in the future and will repeatedly do it more than twice. I have no doubt about that and in rowing as well, and a whole load of other sports.”Paris ‘heat dome’ makes Olympic organisers’ stance on air conditioning tough to sustain
Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy on their way to winning the lightweight double sculls final A in Paris. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho