Paul O'Donovan wins his quarter-final at world championships

BY KIERAN McCARTHY

SKIBBEREEN Olympic hero Paul O’Donovan produced a storming finish in his quarter-final to ease into the A/B semi-final of the men’s lightweight single sculls at the world senior rowing championships in Rotterdam this afternoon.

Fresh from winning his heat on Monday, the Olympic Games silver medalist was hugely impressive in this heat win, as he came from fourth after the 500m to sit in third at the halfway mark before edging in front with 500m to go.

In an exciting last 500m, O’Donovan stepped on the gas, upped his rate, and eased home in 6:54.79, over two seconds clear of USA in second and Croatia in third – the first three qualified for the A/B semi-finals, which will be held on Thursday afternoon.

Paul and his brother Gary won silver medals in the men's lightweight double sculls at the Olympics in Rio earlier this month, and a huge homecoming is planned for Skibbereen next Monday night.