When they were mere toddlers full of awe, Paul O’Donovan and his elder brother Gary would often accompany their dad, Teddy, to the national championships at Inniscarra Lake and to regattas where teams from their home town, Skibbereen, were competing. To the young boys, those rowers were like titans.
Having constantly pestered their father to take them to the water, the day finally arrived when Teddy gave in. Paul and Gary were barely seven and eight years old, respectively. With no one to assist him, Teddy struggled alone to get a boat into the Ilen river, into which the boys eagerly jumped.
“Gary and I were just little lads, not strong at all,” O’Donovan fondly recalls years later. “So father had to lug the massive boat down the slip by himself and throw it into the water. We were ecstatic to be out there. We must have been pretty bad at it, but we enjoyed every single second.”
Their initial spark turned into a lifelong passion. They dived right in, completely enveloping themselves in the sport. When internet connectivity arrived at their Lisheen home, they spent hours trawling through YouTube for clips of old Olympic races and World Championship regattas.
O’Donovan postulates that he was about 12 when he set his sights on competing in the London Olympics that would take place in six years’ time. Other local Skibbereen folks had previously made it to the Olympics, which made his dream seem more achievable. The 2012 Olympics were a bit early for him, but the Games would eventually become the showcase for his incredible skills and boundless determination.
Now at the age of 30, O’Donovan shows no sign of slowing his pace. He devotes significant energy to understanding the science behind his sport and his physical fitness. His performance metrics ahead of the Olympics indicated that he was in the best physical condition of his life.
On Friday, he not only cemented his status as the most decorated Irish Olympian in history, with a collection of two golds and a silver from three distinct Games, but he also joined the ranks of legendary Olympians. His esteemed league includes a Croatian team appearing on the podium for the fourth time this week, as well as Steve Redgrave who accomplished the same feat in Sydney 2000. The challenge to match this record surely must be the next peak in his career.
O’Donovan, who has already braved the open weight division at the European Championships earlier in the year placing eighth, faces the ultimatum of either quitting or persevering in this division now that the Olympics has phased out lightweight rowing. For him, throwing in the towel is out of the question.
“As we prepare for the Games,” he stated, “we could gain a bit of weight, but not significantly. Even now, we’re not far off the pace of the Irish heavyweight double who consistently bag medals [Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle]. When it comes to training, it’s a toss-up between us on who wins.”
The array of medals O’Donovan has acquired from prestigious championships is astounding. The tally currently stands at two Olympic golds, an Olympic silver, six world titles, and three European titles. The upcoming World Championships in Canada in a few weeks only consist of non-Olympic events. Although O’Donovan is eligible for a break, he’s the only member of the Olympic team to sign up for an event, set to compete in the lightweight single scull.
In recent times, O’Donovan has been frequently hailed as the finest rower worldwide, weight for weight. However, substantiating these claims is virtually unfeasible. What remains without a doubt though is his exceptional stamina coupled with an unwavering determination. In the elite level, the training regime is a non-stop grinding machine where O’Donovan and McCarthy would find themselves on the water a minimum of six days weekly. The remaining day may include a gym session, though it would never be considered a day off.
In his other life off the river, O’Donovan initially qualified as a physiotherapist, later pivoting towards medicine and graduating top of his class from UCC this year. Mastering the delicate balance between academic pursuits and the relentless rigour of elite rowing is nothing short of remarkable.
Following Friday’s competition, O’Donovan was questioned in the mixed zone about his potential for improvement. His response suggested a modest chance of further development, but not significantly so. However, over time, he expressed aspirations to enter the open weight team in LA. He clearly appears to have no intention of cessation anytime soon.