Team Ireland hunting gold at World Rowing Championships

Two more outstanding performances yesterday means Ireland will have three boats competing in A finals today at the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota.

Reigning men’s lightweight single sculls world champion Paul O’Donovan comfortably saw off his opposition in the first A/B semi-final of the day, claiming his third win of the week.

Unusually, O’Donovan pulled out of the starting blocks very strongly putting the pressure immediately on his opponents, before settling into a steady, solid rhythm and looked in control of the race from the early stages. A trademark surge in the closing stages left the field trailing, winning by a margin of 3.74 seconds. Today he faces boats from Switzerland, Brazil, Norway, New Zealand and Germany in the final.