Everything’s rowing to plan

There may be more gold for Ireland at the 2024 Olympics as Cork rowers Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan booked their place in tomorrow’s final.

The Skibbereen duo are serious gold contenders after finishing first in their lightweight men’s double sculls semi-final yesterday with a time of 6:21.88.

They will go up against rowers from Switzerland, Czechia, Italy, Greece, and Norway tomorrow, Friday, at 11.02am Irish time.

Ireland’s Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch also won their semi-final in the men’s double sculls and go into today’s final at 10.30am Irish time as second favourites.

In the men’s pair, Ireland’s Ross Corrigan and Nathan Timoney finished 3rd in their semi-final yesterday to qualify for tomorrow’s final at 10.30am.

In the women’s double sculls, Cork’s Alison Bergin and Kerry’s Zoe Hyde are through to this morning’s final B after finishing 5th in their semi-final. The Women’s Four team of Cork rowers Emily Hegarty, Natalie Long, Imogen Magner, and Dublin’s Eimear Lambe are also unfortunately out of medal contention after finishing 4th in the Women’s Four Repechage.

On Tuesday, Team Ireland secured its first gold medal of the games when swimmer Daniel Wiffen took gold in the 800m freestyle becoming the first Irish male to win an Olympic medal for swimming.

In doing so, the 23 year old from Armagh sensationally smashed the existing Olympic record in the event with a time of 7:38.19.

That gold may not be the only medal Wiffen brings home. He will be in the water again for the 1500m freestyle heat on 3 August and the 10km open-water swim on 9 August. The men’s 1500m freestyle final takes place on 4 August. Wiffen came into the games as a one of the favourites following incredible performances in the World Championship earlier this year where he took home two gold medals.

Wiffen’s win came less than 24 hours after Sligo swimmer Mona McSharry took bronze in the women’s 100m breaststroke final. It was a dramatic race, with McSharry edging both Italy’s Benedetta Pilato and Lilly King of the United States by 0.01 of a second. McSharry was in action again yesterday, finishing 3rd in the women’s 200m breaststroke heat which put her through to last night’s semi-finals.

In other events, at the time of writing, Team Ireland’s Rob Dickson and Sean Waddilove remain in contention in the men’s 49er skiff regatta with hopes to reach today’s final medal race starting at 1.43pm Irish time.

In canoeing, Ireland’s Noel Hendrick has made it to the semi-final stage of the Men’s K1 Canoe Slalom which takes place today at 2.30pm Irish time.

In boxing, Irish medal prospect Kelly Harrington went up against Columbia’s Angie Paola Valdes Pana yesterday afternoon. This evening, at 7pm Irish time, Ireland’s Daina Moorehouse will take on Wassila Lkhadira of France in the Women’s 50kg prelims round of 16.

At 8.52pm this evening, Ireland’s Jack Marley takes on Davlat Boltaev of Tajikistan.

In golf, Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry will play in the men’s individual stroke play round 1, starting at 8am Irish time.