Silent partner Fintan McCarthy opens up on feeling bulletproof

'We have the same coach, the same facilities, the same training programme. I guess it just showed that it was possible. I didn’t think too much about it after that'

Fintan Mccarthy and Paul O'Donovan of Team Ireland celebrate winning the gold medal during the Lightweight Men's Double Sculls Final in Tokyo. Picture: Maja Hitij/Getty Images

All week he’s been happy to just row and let others do the talking.

Fintan McCarthy has offered the odd morsel after each of his and Paul O’Donovan’s three races here but, by and large, he was the silent partner in this pairing as they went about securing just a tenth gold medal for Ireland at the Olympic Games.