In the combined World Rowing Championships at the Royal Canadian Henley course in St Catharines, Canada, Paul O’Donovan emerged as the unquestionable victor of his preliminary heat in the lightweight men’s single sculls category. This performance came just over a fortnight after O’Donovan secured his second Olympic gold in the lightweight double sculls in Paris, rowing alongside Fintan McCarthy. Back in St Catharines, he took part as one of the six competitors in the senior races that coincided with the Under-23 and Under-19 Championships.
O’Donovan notched up an impressive time of 6:41.98, securing his spot directly in the semi-finals after securing a victory in the fourth out of four heats. He was second in speed only to Italy’s Niels Torre who set a new record in the lightweight single sculls with a time of 6:39.56 in the second heat.
The combined World Rowing Championships are hosted post-Olympic Games, and with the Paralympics just ahead. The event consists of six boat classes that aren’t represented at the Olympic or Paralympic Games.
O’Donovan is no novice in the lightweight single sculls, having won the gold at the combined World Rowing Championships, in this same category, back in 2016. He defended this title with success in 2017, then moved on to double sculls which he has routinely been racing in since then.
Additionally, representing Ireland in the competition is Siobhán McCrohan, the current world champion in the lightweight women’s single sculls. The preliminary rounds for her event are scheduled for Monday.