Fintan McCarthy: Ireland rowing medallists likely to join forces for L.A Games
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Fintan McCarthy has hinted that himself and Paul O’Donovan could combine with fellow Olympic medallists Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch for the Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
McCarthy and O’Donovan successfully defended the gold medal in the men’s lightweight double sculls that they won in Tokyo in 2021 but the event will no longer continue beyond the recent Paris Games.
And speaking at the homecoming in Dublin on Monday in front of a crowd of approximately 20,000, McCarthy, who also confirmed O’Donovan wasn’t in attendance due to training and work commitments at the Cork University Hospital, admitted the duo may 'combine forces' with Doyle and Lynch, winners of bronze medals for the men’s double sculls.
“We’ll leave him off, he’s doing a really good job at home at C.U.H. We miss him, of course, but we will be reunited soon. Back to work, back to training, I need a bit more of a rest than that but fair play to him,” began McCarthy.
“It was a hard year for me, sickness wise. Looking back, it probably might be a bit dramatic talking about it like that, I only missed a few weeks but when it’s in the middle of the season it can really affect results and stuff like that.
“It did give me a good kick for the last six weeks training towards this, but I definitely need a rest now and we’ll see what happens.
“We might have to give it a go (in 2028). We’ll see what these lads (looking at Doyle and Lynch) are doing. We might join forces, we’ll see.”
Meanwhile Mona McSharry has admitted she will take four months off before deciding her future.
The Sligo native, who turns 24 on Wednesday week, won bronze in the Women’s 100m breaststroke and but insisted she will take time before deciding what her future holds.
“I’m still training over in Tennessee at the moment. We will take it one year at a time. I’m taking four months off to chill and then I’ll see if I miss it that much or if I want to move into the next phase of life, but yeah, we’ll see,” said McSharry.
Finally, Daniel Wiffen confirmed he has recovered from the illness which saw him withdraw as a flagbearer for Team Ireland at the closing ceremony at the Stade de France on Sunday before he backed his twin-brother Nathan to join him on the podium at the next Olympics.
“I’m ok now. I was a bit ill, I don’t know if you noticed because I was meant to be carrying the flag yesterday,” he laughed.
“I was in hospital but we’re all good now, I’m happy to be here and thank everyone for their support.
“I’m sure in L.A we will both be on the podium. I hope everyone looks forward to cheering on the both of us. We will make Ireland proud, we will hopefully get a gold and a silver, me I’m obviously on the gold one, he can have the silver, but it will be a great one, four years’ time.”