'Emotion was unbelievable', say proud parents on gold win

Fintan McCarthy's mother Sue has described as "unbelievable" the moment she watched her son row to gold with Paul O'Donovan in the men’s lightweight double sculls at the Paris Olympics this morning.

She admitted she was "feeling sick" before the race, but said she was "absolutely delighted" when they got over the line in first place.

For Tom McCarthy, the experience of watching his son race was very different.

"I don’t have nerves. I just knew they’d done the work, and could turn it on when they need to."

Fintan McCarthy, who only took up rowing at the age of 15, is now one of Ireland’s most successful Olympians, despite, his parents say, "never being a sporty child."

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"But somehow, at 15, he just got in that boat and absolutely loved it, and here we are."

They said they were looking forward to the celebrations later with family, friends and everyone from Skibbereen in Co Cork.

"It's just brilliant for the town - it gives everybody a lift"

Ms McCarthy said she had seen a video on social media of everyone back home "watching in the town hall and jumping up and down."

"It’s probably going off in Skib now," she said.

For Paul O’Donovan’s father Teddy, he said that his confidence was always there that the pair would finish in first place.

"It’s not a surprise to me that they’re here today. I’ve seen them race like that for donkey's years. That’s how I taught them when they were young teenagers. Uncompromising racing at its best."

He added that it feels great to be the father of