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Gary O'Donovan out of world rowing championships due to illness

September 13th, 2017 2:22 PM

By Kieran McCarthy

Olympic silver medallist Gary O'Donovan out of world championships.

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Skibbereen RC star has withdrawn due to viral infection

OLYMPIC silver medallist Gary O’Donovan has had to pull out of the World Rowing Championships after being hit with a viral infection.

Gary and his brother Paul were bidding for gold in the lightweight men’s double at the championships in Florida that begin on September 24th – but those plans have been shelved after Gary was forced to withdraw. As a result, Ireland will not enter a crew in the men's lightweight double.

Instead, Paul will now defend his men's world lightweight single scull title that he won at last year’s world championships.

Gary will still travel to Florida as a reserve.

A Rowing Ireland statement said: ‘Unfortunately Gary O’Donovan (Skibbereen RC) has had to withdraw from the LM2x due to a viral infection that has compromised his preparations for the event. However, Gary has been selected by the HP Management to travel as a reserve.’

There will still be strong Skibbereen Rowing Club representation with Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll racing in the men’s lightweight pair and Denise Walsh in the women’s single sculls.

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