Shane O’Driscoll and Mark O’Donovan prove that Skibbereen is the rowing capital of the world.
The West Cork lightweight pair claimed a gold medal in the European Rowing Championships and were in triumphant mood in their interview with RTÉ Sport afterwards.
Their clubmate Denise Walsh produced a brilliantly timed row to take silver in the lightweight women’s single sculls shortly afterwards to make it a memorable morning for the Irish.
“Dominic Casey wanted to make us hungry so he kept us away from the sport for a day or two. He only made us train once a week to make us hungry and by God we’d a hunger,” O’Driscoll said.
“In the warm-up we had a practice start and Mark wasn’t too happy with my aggression and he said, ‘By God, you bbetter up that aggression off the start’ and I made sure all I was concentrating on was the first six strokes off the start and get out nice and hard with that aggression. I think that set us up nicely.”
The post-race interview was reminiscent of Skibbereen’s Paul and Gary O’Donovan at last year’s Olympic Games – the West Cork duo compete later this morning in the lightweight men’s double sculls.
"The drop of whiskey they gave us before the race… I threw up just now!” – *warning, colourful language #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/tUL1aLAZAN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 28, 2017
