Olympic gold medallists accept lift from stranger

Having rowed their way to gold in Paris, a pair of Irish Olympians have been helped over the line on their journey home by a friendly stranger they met on their flight.

Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy accepted a lift home to their native Cork from Dublin, according to a social media post by Dublin Airport., external

O’Donovan and McCarthy arrived into Ireland from Paris on Tuesday, having claimed gold in the men’s lightweight double sculls.

The pair delivered a dominant showing at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium as they backed up their gold medal from Tokyo three years ago.

Flying into Dublin, they had planned to take the bus home to Cork, according to Dublin Airport.

But the pair received a warm welcome back to Ireland and a man called Ciaran who they met on the flight offered them a lift home.

Dublin Airport said that O’Donovan and McCarthy accepted the offer and “off they went”.

The Paris games have marked Ireland’s most successful ever Olympics in terms of medals.

With a few days still to go, Ireland has already secured three golds and three bronzes, placing them in 16th on the medal table.