O’Donovan brothers pull through pain to Olympic glory

You can take the men out of Cork. The Rebel County has a gilded Olympic history, from Pat O’Callaghan through to Sonia O’Sullivan and on a rainy Friday morning in Rio, the O’Donovan brothers from Skibbereen dropped out of the sky like a gift from the heavens.

Natural born rowers who stormed their way to Ireland’s first ever Olympic medal in the sport, they finished with silver after a gripping sprint for gold against France in the men’s lightweight doubles sculls.

For decades, Irish rowing has known only heartbreak at the Olympics. The O’Donovans didn’t just deliver a first medal; they might have become Ireland’s best-loved comedy act along the way. But they are solemn as monks about their sport.

“We tried to win the gold medal and we really, really gave it everything out there,” said Gary after the pair made it up the gangway with Tricolours prominent in the dull haze and delighted Irish shouts drifting across the lagoon.

“We’re delighted to come home with any medal at all and a silver one is fantastic.”

What a story.

Although the brothers have been rowing since childhood, they only formed a crew two years ago and snatched the last Olympic qualifying spot by two-thirds of a second.

Immediately, they set their sights on the beautifully mad idea of an Olympic gold.

Powering through the last 500 metres at 18.9km an hour, it looked as if they might just do that. France crossed the line in 6.30.70 and immediately collapsed in a heap. The Irish boat finished at 6.31.23.

“You’re in pain but you are not thinking of it,” said Gary. “All thoughts go out the window. I was delighted. Silver! I jumped forward in the boat and gave Paul a big hug.”

Minutes earlier, the women’s lightweight doubles crew of Sinead Lynch and Claire Lambe finished sixth in a punishing final. They stood at the water’s edge to congratulate their team-mates.

“The lads . . . aww . . . they really are amazing, like,” said Lambe, beaming through her disappointment.

There were jubilant scenes in Skibbereen, near the brothers’ hometown of Lisheen. “I’d say they’re after closing down Skibbereen, are they?” said Paul afterwards. “I’d say they’re all going wild at home – they’re delighted – and dead right too.”