Paul O’Donovan, is an Irish rower and world-class sportsman, he was the only Irishman to win both World Championship and Olympic medals in the same year. 

Together with his brother Gary, he won silver in the Men’s Lightweight Double Sculls at the Rio Olympics in 2016, the first rowing medal won by Ireland at the Olympics.   

He also became World Champion and gold medallist in the Men’s Lightweight Single Sculls in the same year.  Paul was awarded UCC’s top sporting accolade, a Quercus Sports’ Scholarship and is studying Medicine at UCC.   

The scholarship recognises sporting excellence and Paul embodies all that the Programme could wish for in a Quercus Scholar.  Paul has excelled in so many ways and his ability to balance his love of rowing and passion for medicine is admirable.