Skibbereen brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games. Skibbereen brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games. Skibbereen brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games. Skibbereen brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games. Skibbereen brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games. Skibbereen brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games. Skibbereen brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games. Skibbereen brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games. Skibbereen brothers Paul and Gary O'Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games.
SKIBBEREEN brothers Paul and Gary O’Donovan are edging closer to the 2016 Olympic Games.
They placed third in the quarter-final of the lightweight men’s double sculls at the World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette in France this morning, which puts them in the A/B semi-finals and the top 12.
The top 11 crews will qualify for Rio next summer.
Paul and Gary beat New Zealand to the crucial third spot in their quarter-final. Britain won, followed by Italy and behind them New Zealand had the edge down the course on the Irish – but a slightly better sprint by the O’ Donovan brothers denied New Zealand of qualifying for the semi-final and thus missing out on Olympic qualification. There was no denying the absolute joy of Ireland.
Paul and Gary will row in the A/B semi-final on Thursday morning (10.17am Irish time). If they qualify for the A final on Saturday then they will compete at the 2016 Olympics.
If they have to contest the B final, also on Saturday, then their target will be not to finish last as the first five crews home will also book their tickets to Rio.
