Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy reflect on Olympic gold: 'We were back to our best for this race'

Dynamic duo Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy delivered an incredible performance to defend their lightweight double sculls Olympic title in Paris.

In doing so, O'Donovan became the first Irish competitor to medal at three Olympic Games while the pair bridged a gap to 1932 when Dr Pat O'Callaghan, from Dromtarriffe in North Cork, retained his hammer-throwing crown.

In typical fashion, the Skibbereen native played down his remarkable achievement: “I think that’s a fluke, to be honest.” 

While strongly fancied to shine again on the biggest stage, O'Donovan and McCarthy's form had been mixed this year and they decided to lean into the 'underdogs' tag.

"No one else believed we could do it," O'Donovan told RTÉ after. "And against all the odds we stuck with it, trained hard and Italy out there today were the number one seeds and really put it up there.

“Greece were underdogs like ourselves, also put in a big day again today and got onto the medal podium and unfortunately Switzerland missed out after some good performances earlier this year. But very happy to prove the doubters wrong.

“So it’s a good day for the Irish.” 

"We had a rocky season," reasoned McCarthy. "Well, I did, Paul has obviously been consistent as hell for the whole year but just really nice to get a few races under our belt early in the whole regatta.

We were 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 and I really felt like we were back at our best for this race.” 

They paid tribute to their coach and Skibbereen Rowing Club stalwart Dominic Casey, whose daughter Aoife was also competing, as she and Margaret Cremen missed out on a medal in the women's lightweight double sculls A final after a fifth-place finish.

"It feels like it’s been a crazy journey the last few years and it has just been a privilege of a lifetime to be rowing with Paul and under Dominic for my whole rowing career pretty much,” said McCarthy. “It’s amazing." 

CONSISTENT

O'Donovan secured a silver medal with his brother Gary alongside him in the boat in 2016, before McCarthy took over in 2019 due to an injury.

McCarthy (27) excelled at the trials for the Tokoyo games to retain his spot and that combination landed gold in 2021 before retaining it in Paris. European and World Championship gold medals were secured by Paul with Gary and Fintan McCarthy alongside him since his breakthrough eight years ago, but the Olympics are the ultimate barometer.

Paul O'Donovan, who turned 30 in April, is a colourful character but has never courted publicity, despite his high profile.

He previously told The Irish Times: "When we kind of got good at rowing, I just found there was no need to start changing that, who I am. I never cared for it.”

O'Donovan and McCarthy won't be able to defend their gold at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles because lightweight rowing is gone from the programme, but the likelihood is they'll move up to the heavyweight category.

Time is still on O'Donovan's side, who operates as a full-time rower training at the Rowing Centre in Farran Woods, but is qualified as a doctor of medicine from UCC.

McCarthy who has a degree in physiology from UCC and will be 28 in November, enjoyed his first success on the water with his twin brother, having been a late starter as a rower.

"I slotted into secondary school not being that sporty," he conceded to Joe.ie in an interview. "I thought academics was my thing really, and I worked really hard at that. I would be doing well enough in school. I have a twin brother, Jake, and he’s much more sporty. He was playing football, soccer and all of that.

"I didn’t really have anything else or like a place, I guess."

He's certainly found his place now, alongside O'Donovan, an absolute Leeside legend.