My Childhood with Fintan McCarthy: 'When we moved from London to Skibbereen, I stood out'

The world champion lightweight rower talks about dealing with moving with his family to Skibbereen from London when he was six and how having a solid base of family support helped him as an athlete

Fintan McCarthy: 'Rowing gave me a sense of purpose. It became my thing and helped me believe it was OK to be myself.'  Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The lightweight rower Fintan McCarthy is a world champion and double Olympic gold medallist. 

Aged 29, he is currently preparing for the World Rowing Championships in the Netherlands in August. He tells the Irish Examiner how the relationships and experiences he had in childhood made him the sportsman he is today.