The Paris Olympics have been a “much better experience” than the last Games in Tokyo, bronze medal winner Philip Doyle has said.
Doyle, who won his medal along with Daire Lynch in the men’s double sculls last week, described Paris as “phenomenal”.
Speaking to The Hard Shoulder from the French capital’s Irish Cultural Centre, Doyle said he had been hugely impressed by how many Irish people are "just buzzed” by the Games.
“I bumped into so many people and they were saying, ‘We’ve been watching the rowing’,” he said.
“I’m like, ‘Have you really?’ because you don’t believe that people at home have actually been tuning in and paying in.
“But they’re describing races and telling about this person and that person and things that happened.
“I was like, ‘That was eight days ago, I don’t even have that information retained.’”
Philip Doyle in the Irish Cultural Centre. Image: Newstalk.Doyle said everyone is “absolutely delighted” and the pair are being recognised while they are out and about exploring the city.
“Myself and Daire were on the electric bikes yesterday coming back from an event,” he said.
“Just through a random street and this Irish lad came flying out of a cafe, ‘Lads, lads, lads - can we get a photo?’
“We said, ‘Yeah, yeah, of course’ and then the kids were out in the middle of the street and everyone was like, ‘Who are these lads?’
“We were in civvies, we weren’t in Team Ireland gear, so how they even recognised us, it’s just that people genuinely know who you are and non-Irish people are recognising you as well.”
PHILIP DOYLE & DAIRE LYNCH!!!!! 🤯
OLYMPIC BRONZE MEDALLISTS! 🥉
We are so proud of you guys!!#TeamIreland | #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/VFbKn7WtXd
— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) August 1, 2024
During the last Games, athletes kept socialising to a minimum because of the fear of catching or passing on COVID-19.
This Games, the atmosphere has been more relaxed and the time difference has helped people back home follow the progress of Irish athletes.
“I feel like the time difference has made it a much better experience,” he said.
“People were saying, ‘Oh, we’re getting up at three o’clock to watch a race’ and you almost felt guilty in Tokyo.
“Then as well, I found it really difficult to keep a routine in Tokyo.
“The whole family and everyone at home was waking up and then started messaging you around 11 o’clock - the time you’re supposed to be going to bed.”
So far, Ireland has won four gold medals and three bronzes - a record breaking haul.
You can listen back here:
Main image: Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch of Team Ireland. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
