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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Colin Brennan

RTE Olympics commentator explains why they can't be biased towards Irish athletes

An RTE Olympics commentator has explained why they can't be biased towards Irish athletes at the Toyko Olympics.

Some viewers were disappointed that Carolyn Hayes didn't get more of a mention as she crossed the finish line in the Women’s Individual Triathlon and claimed 23rd place earlier this week.

Limerick woman Hayes posted a time of 2:02:10 and RTE commentator Ryle Nugent admitted he had taken some flak for not talking about the 33-year-old Newcastlewest native more.

Ryle explained on Twitter: "Taken a bit of flak for not mentioning Carolyn Hayes more in triathlon commentary.

"I get the frustration for those watching on RTE Sport but I’m working for the world feed which RTE Sport chose to broadcast (many other broadcasters worldwide similarly).

"That means no favouritism.

2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Tuesday - Women's Triathlon, Odaiba Marine Park, Tokyo, Japan 27/7/2021 Ireland’s Carolyn Hayes (INPHO/Bryan Keane)

"The world feed is an English language commentary put on every match and every event at the Games.

"Every broadcaster who has rights to the games has a right to broadcast that feed or supply their own commentary.

"Nearly all broadcasters chose to mix and match."

RTE Olympics commentator Ryle Nugent (INPHO/Dan Sheridan)

Meanwhile, Olympic champion Paul O'Donovan expects to receive the wrath of his mother when he returns to Ireland with his gold medal.

O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy won a thrilling lightweight double sculls final in Tokyo on Thursday to claim Ireland's first Olympic gold medal since 2012.

The gold is Ireland's first since boxer Katie Taylor won in London 2012 and the country's 10th overall in summer Games.

The pair became the first male Irish gold medallists since boxer Michael Carruth in 1992 after beating Germany by just 0.86 seconds at the Sea Forest Waterway on Thursday.

But 27-year-old O'Donovan admits that achievement may not be enough to earn the plaudits when he returns home to see his mum.

Ireland’s Fintan McCarthy and Paul O’Donovan celebrate winning gold medals (INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

"I've been ignoring her all the while so she's going to be fairly annoyed, when I get home I'll get a back of the hand across the face I'd say," he told RTE.

O'Donovan also became the first Irish athlete to win Olympic gold and silver medals, having finished second in the double sculls with brother Gary in Rio.

Talking about winning at his sport's biggest event, a jovial O'Donovan added: "I suppose it's fine.

"We are just trying to do the best we can and hopefully be the best of the rest of them.

"That's the race plan we had, we do it all the time and it seems to work OK for us. Italy and Germany always go hard, you can count on that, and then slow down a bit.

2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Thursday - Rowing, Sea Forest Waterway, Tokyo, Japan 29/7/2021 Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls, Final A. Ireland’s Fintan McCarthy presents Paul O’Donovan with his gold medal (INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

"Once we were catching up to them we knew we were at a sustainable pace and kept going.

"Winning today and a silver medal last time, I'll be a bit happier about that. The silver medal is nice but Fintan did the right job and we went straight to the top at his first Games."

McCarthy added: "I've been chilled out, usually I'd be a bit more nervous but felt really prepared. The expectation doesn't weigh too heavily on us, we do what we always do - the best we can."

The duo had set a new Olympic best in the semi-final of six minutes and 05.33 seconds but had to fight for gold.

Germans Jonathan Rommelmann and Jason Osborne were 10 lengths clear after 500m but Ireland slowly closed the gap and managed to edge ahead and were a length in front before the finish line.

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