Gary O'Donovan facts for kids
O'Donovan at the 2016 European Rowing Championships
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 30 December 1992 Lisheen, Cork, Ireland |
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| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 70 kg (150 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Ireland |
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| Sport | Rowing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Lightweight double sculls | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic finals | Silver Medal (Lightweight double sculls, Rio 2016) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Gary O'Donovan is a famous Irish rower born on December 30, 1992. He is best known for his amazing achievements in rowing with his brother, Paul. Together, they have won many important medals. These include a gold medal at the 2016 European Rowing Championships, a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a gold medal at the 2018 World Rowing Championships. Gary was also chosen to carry the flag for Ireland at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Contents
Growing Up and Starting Rowing
Gary O'Donovan grew up in a place called Lisheen, near Skibbereen in County Cork, Ireland. His parents are Trish and Teddy O'Donovan. He went to Lisheen National School and then to St Fachtna's De La Salle secondary school in Skibbereen. Later, he studied Marketing at Cork Institute of Technology, graduating in 2016.
Gary and his younger brother Paul started rowing when Gary was about eight years old. Their father, Teddy, was also a rower. He took them to the Skibbereen Rowing Club and taught them how to row. Their hard work paid off early. In 2008, they were chosen for the Irish junior team. They competed in Wales at the Home International Regatta and won a gold medal in junior quad sculls.
Amazing Rowing Achievements
Gary O'Donovan has had a very successful rowing career, especially with his brother Paul. They have won medals at some of the biggest rowing competitions in the world.
Olympic Glory in Rio
In August 2016, Gary and Paul O'Donovan made history at the Rio Olympics. They won a silver medal in the lightweight double sculls event. This was a huge moment because it was the first time Ireland had ever won an Olympic medal in rowing!
European and World Success
Before the Olympics, in April 2016, the O'Donovan brothers won a silver medal at a World Rowing Cup event in Italy. The very next month, they won a gold medal at the 2016 European Rowing Championships in Germany.
In 2017, they continued their success. They won another silver medal at the 2017 European Rowing Championships. They also earned silver and bronze medals at other World Rowing Cup events that year.
Their winning streak continued into 2018. At the 2018 European Rowing Championships in Glasgow, they won a silver medal. Later that year, they became world champions! They won the gold medal at the 2018 World Rowing Championships, showing they were the best in the world.
