Team Ireland has taken home its first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics.
Skibbereen rowers Fintan McCarthy (24) and Paul O’Donovan (27) won the lightweight men's double sculls rowing final.
They finished with a time of 6:06.43, just a second ahead of Germany. Italy finished in third place, almost eight seconds behind the Irish rowers.
It's the first gold medal the country has ever won in rowing, and follows the bronze won by the Women's Four team yesterday.
OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS! 🥇
What a morning in Tokyo as Fintan McCarthy & Paul O’Donovan claimed gold to be crowned Olympic champions in a thrilling Lightweight Men’s Double final that saw them cross the line in a time of 6:06.43.
What a day! 🇮🇪💚🥇🇮🇪💚🥇#TeamIreland #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/Gltt8ZcmsR— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) July 29, 2021
For O'Donovan, it's a second Olympic medal after he claimed silver alongside his brother Gary in Rio in 2016.
Speaking after the race, McCarthy said: "We had a really good race – but a tough one. The Germans were flying so it was hard.
"I was really excited when we first crossed the line and there was a bit of relief as well. We have had a good time all week, so we are a bit sad that it is all over.
"We hadn’t had too much time to think about it but it feels pretty good and hopefully it will be that way for a while.”
The win is also the first Olympic gold medal for Ireland since London 2012, when Katie Taylor won in the women's lightweight boxing event.
'Tremendous achievement'
In a statement, President Michael D Higgins said: “After the magnificent success in women’s rowing yesterday, today we celebrate Ireland’s first Olympic gold medal in rowing, won so deservedly by Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy in the lightweight double sculls.
“Theirs is a tremendous achievement, which gives great inspiration to young people and aspiring athletes all over Ireland.”
Sean O'Brien, captain of Skibbereen Rowing Club in West Cork, says everyone is delighted with today's win.
He said the club's already looking to the Paris 2024 Olympics, with two other rowers hoping to compete in three years' time.
For now, however, he said everyone's "high on the life at the moment" following Fintan and Paul's win overnight.
