Described as 'possibly the two most famous men in World Rowing, Ireland's Gary and Paul O'Donovan have won gold in the men's lightweight double skulls at the World Rowing Cup in Switzerland.
However, Ireland's success at the event doesn't stop there. Sanita Puspure claimed a silver medal in the women's single skulls.
Our World Rowing Cup III winners, Gold medalists in the lightweight men’s double sculls, Gary & Paul O’Donovan and Silver medalist in the Women’s single sculls, Sanita Puspure. Fantastic results & huge congratulations from all of us at the #IrishRowChamp2018 🥇🥈 pic.twitter.com/3gjiQwNS0R
— Rowing Ireland (@RowingIreland) July 15, 2018
In a tight finish, the O'Donovan brothers ultimately had enough to see off a Belgian duo paying them very close attention. However, having started a little less frantically than their opponents, the Irish team pushed ahead at the half-way mark of the race, and never looked back.
Speaking to WorldRowing.com after the race, Gary O'Donovan discussed the technique that got them over the line in first place:
It was a pretty good race, Denmark took over for a while but then we swapped. We managed to throw ourselves over the finish line in first.
We like to take the opportunity to race so we’ve been quite busy recently.
That moment before hearing if you won 🥇 pic.twitter.com/tz0pvEItSA
— World Rowing (@WorldRowing) July 15, 2018
Ireland had even more success through Puspure, who claimed a silver medal in the single skulls A final. In what was almost an inverse of the O'Donovan race, it was Puspure who got off to the fastest start in her race.
However, at the half-way mark, it was Jeannine Gmelin of Switzerland who pushed ahead and claimed gold in the event.
Speaking afterward, Puspure conceded that it had been "a tough race, really physical out there but the conditions were really good."
Directing her attention toward the World Rowing Championships next, the Irish are certainly leaving their mark.
These three ladies left it all out on the water during the W1x A-Final pic.twitter.com/olHvvqVQlm
— World Rowing (@WorldRowing) July 15, 2018
You can watch the O'Donovan brothers' race in full here.
