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Olympic silver medalist Paul O'Donovan has added to his Rio success with a Gold medal at the World Rowing Championship in Rotterdam.

The Skibbereen rowing sensation struck gold when he came first in the men's lightweight sculls final earlier today - keeping a promise he'd made to pals all the way in Rio.

He finished with a final time of 7:32.84, 4.11 seconds clear of Hungary’s Peter Galambos, who scored silver.

Slovakia’s Lukas Babac came in third.

Speaking after his win, a delighted O'Donovan confessed he was inspired by a promise he had made to pals when he was at the Olympics with his brother Gary.

He said: “The first stroke was bad, but then the second one was good so I went from there.

“At the 500m left I remembered I told my friends when I was in Rio that I would win here by open water, so I thought I should probably keep my promise.

"Then at 200m to go I guess I started smiling a little.”

Chairman of Sport Ireland Kieran Mulvey paid tribute to the 22-year-old and his "remarkable achievement" after the win.

Speaking to RTE, he said: “On behalf of the entire Irish sporting community I would like to congratulate Paul on what is a remarkable achievement.

"Having captured the imagination of the country in Rio, today’s win so soon after claiming an Olympic medal shows Paul’s talent and dedication to his sport.

“It will be a wonderful occasion in Skibbereen when Paul and his brother Gary return, and that celebration is richly deserved.

"To Paul, his team and all in Rowing Ireland a very well done.”

(Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

His big win comes just two weeks after he won a silver medal with his brother in the lightweight men’s double sculls at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The pair performed the race of their lives as they came from fifth at the halfway mark and clinched the second spot in six minutes and 31.23 seconds.