Irish Olympic Rowing Brothers: Gary and Paul O'Donovan

Gary and Paul O’Donovan did more than anyone to put Irish rowing on the map.

Where they come from

Both brothers learned to row at Skibbereen Rowing Club in West Cork, a small town club with a strong record for producing national and international crews. Their rise shows what a well-run club can do with a modest squad, good coaching and a clear focus on lightweight sculling. The club’s coaching set-up, including the long-serving coach Dominic Casey, is widely credited for the results.

If you want a club of your own, see our guide to rowing clubs in Ireland.

Rio 2016: Ireland’s first Olympic rowing medal

At Rio 2016, Gary and Paul won silver in the lightweight men’s double sculls. It was the first Olympic medal Ireland had won in rowing.

Their results at the Games came with a lot of attention beyond the sport. Their relaxed, funny interviews were shared widely, and rowing, a sport that rarely makes the news in Ireland, was suddenly on the front pages. Clubs reported more interest from young people afterwards.

What a lightweight double is

The lightweight double is a sculling boat for two, with each rower holding one oar per hand. Lightweight rules limit the crew’s average weight, and every rower also has an individual weight cap.

That makes the event a test of aerobic engine against body mass. Lightweights have to produce a very high power output on the water while staying under the limit, so steady-state fitness and efficient technique matter a great deal. To see how that engine is built, read how Olympic rowers increase their endurance.

World titles

Paul also made his name in the single scull. He won world titles in the lightweight single sculls in 2016, 2017 and 2024, and the brothers won the lightweight double sculls at the World Rowing Championships in 2018.

The single and the double ask different things of a rower. In a single you set your own rhythm and rely entirely on your own balance and boat feel. In a double you have to match your partner’s stroke length, catch timing and pressure, so a pair who train together for years tend to move more smoothly than two fast individuals thrown together.

Paul’s golds with Fintan McCarthy

Paul later paired with Fintan McCarthy. The two won Olympic gold in the lightweight double sculls at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) and again at Paris 2024.

That means the brothers did not win gold together, and it is worth keeping the two partnerships separate. Gary and Paul won silver in 2016. Paul and Fintan won the golds. The lightweight double is also not part of the programme for the 2028 Games, so the Paris result closed a chapter for the boat class.

Ireland’s wider record

Rowing has become one of Ireland’s most reliable Olympic medal sports. Paul and Fintan’s golds, the women’s four’s bronze at Tokyo and the men’s double’s bronze at Paris all came after the 2016 breakthrough. For the full picture, see our summary of Irish Olympic rowing medals.

What you can take from their story

• Lightweight sculling rewards a huge aerobic base built through steady, repeated work. Our guide to what Olympic rowing medallists have in common covers the habits that go with it.
• A small club can produce international crews when coaching and culture are strong. Our page on when you count as an elite rower shows what that step up involves.
• Partnerships change. Success with one partner does not stop a rower finding another.
• Rowing in a double is as much about matching a partner as about raw speed.

For more on the sport at the top level, head to our Olympic rowing hub.