Damaged boat didn't deflect Irish rowers from achieving brilliant bronze at Olympics

Bronze medallists, Daire Lynch from Clonmel (left) and Philip Doyle from Banbridge, county Down, at the Champions Park at the Trocadero during the Olympics. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

placeholder image — Bronze medallists, Daire Lynch from Clonmel (left) and Philip Doyle from Banbridge, county Down, at the Champions Park at the Trocadero during the Olympics. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle had to source new boat

Rowing heroes Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle overcame the destruction of their boat in a storm during their pre-Olympic Games training camp at Varese in Italy to secure a historic bronze medal in Paris last week.

When speaking to Clonmel Rowing Club PRO Paul Nugent, Lynch said that after the boat was “broken in two” they had to rent another boat the week before the Olympics started, which made their third place finish in the Men’s Heavyweight Double Sculls final last Thursday all the more remarkable.

Daire Lynch is staying in Paris until Sunday's closing ceremony of the Games and is due home in Clonmel on Monday.

He joined Ireland’s other rowers, including gold medal winners Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy, for a celebration at O’Sullivan’s pub in Paris following their heroics last week.

Daire Lynch is the first Tipperaryman to win an Olympic medal since Bob Tisdall struck gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the Los Angeles Games in 1932.