Mark O'Donovan: 'Paul O'Donovan is the greatest Irish athlete of all time'

Paul O'Donovan of Team Ireland acknowledges supporters after winning the men's lightweight double sculls finals A at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

World champion rower Mark O’Donovan has hailed Paul O'Donovan as the greatest Irish athlete of all time, with Fintan McCarthy hot on his heels.

Paul created history for Ireland by becoming the first person to medal at three separate Games, while no one from these shores had defended an Olympic title since 1932.

“I’m sure there are very good contenders but I don’t think anyone has done what he has done,” says Mark.

“He’s hit a milestone in the history books there. With Fintan being on his heels as well, they’ve been a great match for each other in the last number of years. They did each other proud.

“They’ve got a great history of success so I was very confident. It was great to see them come through.

“In the last 400, they really kicked off in great style and moved away from the field. It was a beautiful row from the two boys.” They all developed in Skibbereen Rowing Club’s medal factory on the River Ilen. It was there that Mark first encountered Paul (no relation), while Fintan followed them onto the water in later years.

What distinguished Paul above all others was his capacity to withstand the brutal training regimes associated with rowing.

“Paul has a great ability to absorb training. His physiology is amazing.

“We were doing huge volume and miles… We were getting wrecked where Paul was only getting going.

Paul is congratulated by supporters after winning the men's lightweight double sculls finals A

“The training programmes were being worked around and we almost had to do more because Paul wasn’t getting tired.

“When we were doing the build-up into the World Champs or Europeans, we were absolutely flogged and Paul has such a great engine, he was only starting to get tired. We’d be on our last legs.

“Fintan is really after showing his colours in the last couple of years. I left before I saw the best of him but it’s arguable that Paul met his match with Fintan.

“He has some talent. I can only imagine what kind of an engine he has and obviously the ability to get on with the job and do what he needs to row with Paul and perform.” The gold-laden lightweight double have referred to ‘being slated’ for their technique but it’s hard to imagine many more effective.

“Paul has great boat timing and boat feel. Just because it doesn’t look pretty at times doesn’t mean it’s not quick,” insists Mark.

“When you think of the history of rowing, the technical model came from a British set-up of all these fee-paying schools and they had this beautiful dressage of what rowing should look like.

“It’s not exactly what’s been done in the modern day. It doesn’t have to look nice to be fast.” With lightweight rowing axed from the Olympic schedule for the 2028 Games, the duo are set to switch to the heavyweight ranks.

“If they decide that they want to go that way, I’m sure they’ll have no bother competing.

“It’s a sad thing that lightweight rowing is gone from the Games after this. Back in 2016, they got rid of the lightweight men’s four which was a sad day because it was one of the best events at the Games.

“Now they’re getting rid of the lightweight double which is sad but they have that record forever and they’ll do absolutely fine when they go to compete at heavyweight.

“It’s a long way away. Whatever they want to do, I hope they focus on the present moment and enjoy what’s coming for them. Reap the rewards and enjoy the downtime.”