The St Michael's/Kenmare crew won gold in the World Under-19 double sculls final, finishing 7.26 seconds ahead of Greece and Germany. This victory marks Ireland's first gold medal in this category and the initial medal for a men's crew. Both athletes, Rafferty and Kirby, previously secured bronze at the European Championships. They maintained strong performances through heats and semifinals, culminating in a final where they took the lead early. Their dedication and frequent training have been central to their success, and they were visibly emotional on the podium during the national anthem.
"I've been waiting for this for years; it's an unreal feeling. It's amazing to be able to represent the green jersey - to win a gold medal is a different kind of feeling. I can't process it yet."
"You try to win. That gives you confidence in the heats and semi-finals, to know you can do it. Then in the final, you're all out trying to win [gold]."
"A lot of training - like every day. We did have the odd day off."
"Seeing all the [Ireland] senior champions motivates me to see what can be achieved."
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