In an outstanding morning for Irish rowing at the Olympic regatta, the Irish team managed to clinch key victories in the semi-finals. The duo of Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy led the pack through their lightweight double sculls event, outpacing the Swiss team by a significant margin. Similarly, Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney secured historic achievement, as the first Irish team to advance to the finals of the heavyweight pair.
Women’s team of Mags Cremen and Aoife Casey equally impressed the spectators, securing their spot in the women’s lightweight double scull final. For the first time in history, Ireland will be represented by four boats in the Olympic finals.
O’Donovan and McCarthy dictated the race right from the halfway point with their dominating performance, leaving the Swiss team, earlier adversaries in a World Cup race, more than a boat’s length behind. Despite facing health issues earlier in the year affecting their training, the reigning Olympic champions made a strong comeback, displaying an impressive show of strength on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, Irish duo Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney displayed incredible resilience in the men’s pair semi-final, managing to qualify for the finals at the third position. Their tenacity held off the formidable New Zealand pair, both gold medalists in Tokyo. Their achievement marks the first time an Irish heavyweight pair has competed at the Olympics since 1980.
The Irishmen had a promising start to the race, leading at the 500 metre marker. However, by halfway they slipped to second and third by the last 500 metres, with New Zealand intriguingly close. Yet, a final-burst effort with an increased stroke rate led the pair to outpace their rivals, securing their triumph.
Cremen and Casey demonstrated their prowess in the women’s lightweight pair semi-final, valiantly overtaking the French team in the concluding 200 metres and clinching a spot in the final as the third qualifier. Even at the start of the contest, it seemed evident that the contenders for qualification would be among four boats, and the Irish pair found themselves in fourth position after the initial 1,000 and 1,500 metres.
With France and Greece leading the way, cheered on by an enthusiastic home crowd, it seemed like a formidable challenge for the two Irish rowers. However, as the race neared its end, the French team faltered, allowing the more resilient Irish team to take the lead. Cremen and Casey crossed the finish line a noteworthy 3.5 seconds ahead of the French team.
While Cremen and Casey reveled in their success, another Irish pair, Aifric Keogh and Fiona Murtagh, didn’t fare as well in their semi-final for the women’s pair. Despite the duo’s significant achievements, which include a bronze medal from the women’s four in Tokyo and podium finishes at every World Cup event this season, Keogh and Murtagh trailed behind in their semi-final, unable to rise to the occasion this time round.
Additional updates will be provided soon…