Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan defend title with another gold in Paris

2 Aug 2024 • 6:37 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Ireland rowers Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan completed back-to-back Olympic titles at Paris 2024.

The pair stormed to lightweight men’s double sculls gold at Tokyo three years ago and repeated the feat with a brilliant performance at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

The pair had qualified with the fastest time, but trailed Greece and Italy crews in the early stages.

But they eased past them before halfway and kept pushing to move away over the last 500 metres.

McCarthy and O’Donovan crossed the finishing line in six minutes 10.99 seconds, over two seconds clear of silver medallists Italy with Greece taking bronze.