PAUL O’DONOVAN HAS once again showcased his rowing brilliance by winning a gold medal this evening at the World Championships in Canada, triumphing in the Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (A) final.
The brilliant West Cork rower added another accolade to his glittering honours list, just a few weeks after combining with Fintan McCarthy to win gold in the Olympics in Paris in the lightweight double sculls.
O’Donovan followed up his Olympic exploits, with another superb performance to come home first at St Catharine’s in Canada in a time of 06:49.68 in lane four.
That was good enough to secure victory with Greece’s Antonios Papakonstantinou in second in a time of 06:51.90, while Italian Niels Torre was third in 06:52.64.
O’Donovan added a third individual world title to his remarkable collection of successes, following up previous solo wins in 2016 and 2017.
Earlier Galway’s Siobhan McCrohan won bronze in the Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (A) final. Featuring in lane two, McCrohan finished third in a time of 07:32.94.
Romania’s Ionela Livia Cozmiuc won gold in a time of 07:29.92, while Greece’s Zoi Fitsiou won silver in a time of 07.31.65.
McCrohan was bidding to defend her title and become a double world champion but came up short by a narrow margin, with 2022 world champion and Paris silver medallist Cozmiuc first home.
Has to Irelands top sportsperson at the moment.
@Liam23: at the moment?? Ever!! I’m pretty sure no one comes close to 7 World Championships, 2 Olympic Golds & a silver.
@Shane Cooney: You can add 2 European Championships to that.
@Leonard Barry: Correction, 3 European Gold.
@Shane Cooney: defining it as ever is your opinion, and I’m not knocking that Shane.I’m a big bike racing fan and it is unfair that the Dunlops never get a mention ever,Joey and Robert were trailblazers and icons,William and Michael also,Michael broke Joeys IOM record this year and not a word about it here at all.
@Liam23: not just at the moment. Of all time. 3 Olympic medals plus all the World gold
Ireland’s most successful sportsperson ever in my opinion. Unreal final going from 6th to 1st with relative ease as usual. 7 World Championships Golds, two Olympic Golds and a silver. It’s unmatched, and he’ll be around for a good few more years. Incredible athlete!
@David Cummins: our greatest ever sportsman
@David Cummins: he didn’t play football for O’Donovan Rossas in the cork club football championship though ;)
@Richard Doheny: undoubtedly
Machine. But with a super personality.
If you need a lift anywhere Paul I’m just up the road from the rowing club
Big credit to this man,fair dues !
Well done Paul the country are so proud of you! The greatest Irish sports person of all time!!
Pity heavily taxpayer sponsored RTÉ could not show it! Then they have the cheek to wonder why the people are not paying their licence!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: greatest Irish rower without doubt Ollie
@Jb Walshe: Seven world gold, two Olympic gold and many top three placings…… Who can surpass that JB??
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Maybe if he was from Dublin they would have shown it !
@Lulu: like they show shamrock rovers or st. Pats in europe. Stop.with your dublin shyte
What a cork man
@Square: Always one! Second best Corkman, ye shot the best!
@Lulu: lulu
@Lulu: Always one what talking sports here lulu
@Square: Clown!
@Lulu: Yes u are
@Square: I agree with Square here. Lulu biggest clown here.
Truly amazing
Legend,that is all.
He ll row home across the Atlantic solo just cause he can I suppose. …
Ireland s greatest ever sportsperson , not even a debate at this stage.
Eight years after his first WC gold, and only hit 3 years of age in April, that’s some fierce dedication and longevity at the top there
@Brendan Griffin: 30 of course