The O'Donovan brothers have seized the imagination of a nation in Rio, and now they look set to begin colonising neighbouring hearts and minds too, such was the warmth of their reception on the Graham Norton Show.
Gary and Paul have hit upon the fact that simply being yourself is a revolutionary act, and it was this that Norton found most endearing, telling his audience after recording that "It's great that they are so normal". Naturally, conversation with Norton turned to the etymology and proliferation of 'Pull Like A Dog'. More surprisingly, it ended in a joke about having a wank.
It is easy to imagine the brothers ending up like the 'I didn't do it' boy in The Simpsons, as media outlets take their turns to invite the brothers on in order to poke them into saying something rural/funny/that Marion Cotillard wouldn't understand.
Last night, the brothers were the subject of an RTE documentary, entitled Pull Like A Dog. In spite of the title, the documentary portrayed them in a light much deeper than the happy-go-lucky interviews that catapulted them to stardom. Rowing is an unbelievably demanding sport, and that came across really well in the documentary.
What also came across is their steely determination to win. This clip is its best example, as Paul reflects with disappointment on how he finds it increasingly difficult to look back at the Olympic final.
I find it hard, just when people play back the race and you can see us nearly overtaking the French and we just fall back and they start pulling away. It gets harder and harder every time.
Watch it below:
Superb. Champions, in more ways than one.
Although perhaps not in the one way that Paul would like. But then, that's what Tokyo is for.
