The mother of Ireland's Olympic gold medallist Fintan McCarthy says the family are "absolutely over the moon" after the win.
She said they'll now do "whatever we can" to give Fintan and his rowing mate Paul O'Donovan the homecoming they deserve.
The overnight win in the men's double sculls rowing final is Ireland's first-ever gold medal in rowing.
President Michael D Higgins called the gold medal win a "tremendous achievement", while Taoiseach Micheál Martin says it will "inspire generations to come".
The COVID-19 restrictions in Tokyo mean Fintan and Paul's families weren't able to join the two athletes in Japan to celebrate the victory.
However, Fintan's mother Sue told Newstalk Breakfast the rest of the family were all able to watch the race and medal ceremony together early yesterday morning.
She said: “We’re absolutely over the moon - [we're] delighted for the pair of them.
“It’s an incredible achievement - [Fintan] has put in the work, and showed everything last night.”
She said Fintan was a relative latecomer to rowing, only taking it up when he was around 15.
However, he "just went for it" when he realised he had a talent for the sport.
Nonetheless, there's been lots of work involved to secure his place in the Olympics and now Irish sporting history.
Sue said: “The hard work, the early mornings, up and down the river… it’s brutal. He put in a lot of work to get there, that’s for sure.
“I can’t wait for him to come home now - I'm really looking forward to it.
"We’ve missed him - he has been away for quite a while now with training camps and the two weeks in Tokyo.”
The celebrations when the two rowers get back to Skibbereen will have to be in line with the current COVID-19 regulations.
However, Sue said they will do “whatever we can to make their homecoming one that they deserve”.
