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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by |
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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. He was born on December 30, 1992.
Gary is well-known for rowing with his brother, Paul. Together, they have won many important medals. These include a gold medal at the 2016 European Rowing Championships. They also won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2018, they won a gold medal at the World Rowing Championships. Gary was chosen to carry the flag for Ireland at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Contents
Early Life and Rowing Start
Gary O'Donovan grew up in a place called Lisheen, near Skibbereen in County Cork, Ireland. His parents are Trish and Teddy O'Donovan. Gary went to Lisheen National School. Later, he attended St Fachtna's De La Salle secondary school in Skibbereen. He also studied Marketing at a college called Cork Institute of Technology. He finished his degree in 2016.
Gary and his younger brother Paul started rowing when Gary was about eight years old in 2001. Their father, Teddy, was also a rower. He took them to the Skibbereen Rowing Club. He even coached them there! In 2008, both brothers were chosen for the Irish junior team. They competed in a race in Wales called the Home International Regatta. They won a gold medal in the junior quad sculls event.
Gary O'Donovan's Rowing Career
Gary O'Donovan has had a very successful rowing career. He often rows with his brother Paul.
Winning Medals in 2016
In April 2016, Gary and Paul won a silver medal. This was at the first World Rowing Cup event of the year in Italy. The next month, they won a gold medal. This was at the 2016 European Rowing Championships in Germany.
The biggest moment for them in 2016 was at the Rio Olympics. The O'Donovan brothers won a silver medal. They competed in the lightweight double sculls event. This was a huge achievement! It was the first time Ireland had ever won a rowing medal at the Olympics.
Continued Success in 2017 and 2018
In 2017, Gary and Paul continued to win medals. They won a silver medal at the European Rowing Championships in May. They also won silver and bronze medals at other World Rowing Cup races that year.
In 2018, the O'Donovan brothers won another silver medal. This was at the European Championships in Glasgow. Later that year, they became world champions! They won gold in the lightweight double sculls at the 2018 World Rowing Championships.
