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Fintan McCarthy and Paul O\u2019Donovan ended Ireland\u2019s Olympic gold drought after a thrilling lightweight double sculls victory.<\/p>\nFintan McCarthy and Paul O\u2019Donovan ended Ireland\u2019s Olympic gold drought after a thrilling lightweight double sculls victory.<\/p>\n
The Cork pair won the men\u2019s final to earn the country\u2019s first gold medal since Kate Taylor\u2019s boxing victory in 2012.<\/p>\n
They also became the first male Irish gold medalists since boxer Michael Carruth in 1992, after beating Germany by just 0.86 seconds at the Sea Forest Waterway on Thursday.<\/p>\n
It was O\u2019Donovan\u2019s second Olympic medal after he won silver in the double sculls with brother Gary in Rio. He becomes the first Irish athlete to win Olympic gold and silver medals.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI didn\u2019t think about too much how I felt at the time, so it\u2019s difficult to compare it from five years after.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning today and silver medal last time, I\u2019ll be a bit happier about that. The silver medal is nice but Fintan did the right job and we went straight to the top at his first Games.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe two boys (Germany) have been looking strong all week and made us really work hard. Italy were quick off the start and didn\u2019t let us have it easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
The duo had set a new Olympic best in the semi-final of six minutes 05.33 seconds but had to fight for gold.<\/p>\n
Germans Jonathan Rommelmann and Jason Osborne were 10 lengths clear after 500m but Ireland slowly closed the gap and managed to edge ahead and were a length in front before the finish line.<\/p>\n
President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to the Skibbereen duo, describing their victory as \u201ca tremendous achievement, which gives great inspiration to young people and aspiring athletes all over Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n
O’Donovan and McCarthy have also become the first Irish rowers in history to claim a gold medal at the Olympics with their win.<\/p>\n
It is the second Irish rowing medal of what is proving to be a hugely successful games for the rowers, with the women\u2019s four also winning an earlier bronze medal.<\/p>\n
However, there was disappointment for Team Ireland’s Sanita Puspure last night in the women’s single sculls, as the two-time World champion missed out on a place in tonight’s final after finishing fifth in her semi-final.<\/p>\n