Gary and Paul O’Donovan power into Olympic medal reckoning

Back on the water after high winds led to the cancellation of Sunday’s programme, it was worth the wait for Ireland at the Lagoa Rowing Stadium yesterday.

With Gary and Paul O’Donovan winning their heat in the lightweight double sculls, and Sinead Jennings and Claire Lambe coming second in the qualifying of the women’s equivalent, both pairs advanced to the semi-finals.

There are high hopes particularly for the Skibbereen brothers who came here as European champions. Granted pre-Olympic favourites France didn’t race at that event, but even so, they set a pace here that suggests they can mix it with Norway and South Africa to get amongst the medals.