Victory: Red carpet to be rolled out for rowing champs
CORK is set to roll out the red carpet on the double to honour Ireland’s twin World Rowing Championship title winners.
Skibbereen-based brothers Paul (24) and Gary O’Donovan (25) added a world title to their Olympic silver medals with a win in the lightweight men’s double sculls in Bulgaria on Saturday – while Ballincollig oarswoman Sanita Puspure (36) won the women’s single sculls title yesterday.
It was a particularly sweet victory for Latvian-born Sanita who had been beaten to medals in previous championships.
She has competed for Ireland in the last two Olympic games and is now perfectly poised for Tokyo 2020.
Sanita delivered arguably the performance of her life in Plovdiv to defy reigning champion Jeannine Gmelin of Switzerland.
She was cheered over the line by her husband Kaspar and children Daniela (10) and Patrick (11).
Sanita, who was born near Riga, has been an Irish citizen since 2011. President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to all three athletes for their remarkable performances.
All three gold medallists are Cork-based, with the O’Donovan brothers racing with Skibbereen Rowing Club while Sanita competes with Old Collegians.
The O’Donovan brothers area due to arrive at Cork Airport at 6pm today, while Sanita is expected to arrive into Dublin Airport at 10pm.
A joint homecoming celebration is planned for the three champions later this week.
Cork Lord Mayor Mick Finn said it would be a good idea to invite the rowers to show off their medals to President Higgins and 45,000 football fans at the Liam Miller tribute match at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which takes place on September 25.
Sanita has been an Irish citizen since 2011