Dream finally becomes a golden reality for Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy

Like the fine margins between civilisation and savagery, the difference between success and failure can be gossamer-thin. There is no such thing as impervious in sport

Ireland’s Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan with their gold medals. Picture: INPHO/Photosport/Steve McArthur

Forty minutes had elapsed since Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy crossed the finishing line and signed for gold and the Skibbereen pair was still only at the foothills of a day that was piling up with a mountain of anti-doping commitments and media interviews.

Meanwhile, Sanita Puspure’s day had just been swept from under her because of a shock fifth-place finish in her single sculls semi-final. A few hundred metres away from the celebrations she sat crouched forward in her single sculls boat in obvious distress. Two boats, both heavily favoured, and yet such contrasting scenes and emotions.