Name: Paul O'Donovan
Event: Rowing - lightweight double sculls
Age: 30
The saying 'pull like a dog' was given greater expression by Paul O'Donovan and his brother Gary after they qualified for the lightweight double sculls final at the Rio 2016 Games. O'Donovan was eventually paired up with Fintan McCarthy and the pair went on to better the O'Donovan brothers historic silver in Rio.
In the World Cup II in May O'Donovan and McCarthy had to settle for bronze, being edged out by the Italian boat they got the better of in Tokyo.
Earlier in the year the Skibbereen man competed for the first time at the European Championships in the men's heavyweight single sculls due to McCarthy recovering from illness. O'Donovan was second in the B final.
Since 2021 O'Donovan has been balancing his studies in medicine with rowing. The six-time world champion, along with his partner McCarthy, will be aiming to retain their Olympic gold after retaining their world championship gold for the second time in September of last year.
