Sinéad Lynch (nee Jennings) in action for Ireland in her past life as an international cyclist. She came within a whisker of qualifying for the London Olympics on the track but after narrowly missing out she drifted away from the sport and returned to rowing. Tomorrow, herself and partner Claire Lambe will become the first ever Irish women's crew to compete in an Olympic 'A' final.
Former Irish international track cyclist Sinéad Lynch - nee Jennings - has qualified for the Olympic final of the lightweight women’s sculls rowing alongside her partner Claire Lambe.
The pair finished third in the first of today’s semi-finals in Rio de Janeiro, ensuring they go into tomorrow’s decider.
They will now take on the Netherlands, China, Australia, South Africa and Canada.
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Lynch and Lambe are the first ever Irish women to qualify for an 'A' final at an Olympics.
And the former cyclist's progression into the final continues her storied relationship with the Olympic dream.
She went very close to qualifying for the Olympics in cycling four years ago before opting out of the sport and taking up rowing again.
Her sister Caitríona competed in the marathon that year in London but Sinéad was cruelly denied because of an ill-timed puncture in a World Cup track event in late 2011.
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But four years on she is on the Olympic stage and making history.
First ever Irish Women's crew to make an #OlympicGames 'A' final right here. #TeamIreland ???? pic.twitter.com/btoLr2rvOm
— Team Ireland (@olympiccouncil) August 11, 2016
After finishing second in Tuesday's quarter-final to the South Africans, Lambe and Lynch finished in a time of 7:18.24 with the Canadian pair of Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee ahead of them in second place.
The race was won by Dutch duo Maaike Head and Ilse Paulis in a time of 7:13.93.
Lynch is the wife of double world champion and Olympic rower Sam Lynch who finished fourth in the lightweight men's coxless fours at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
Tomorrow's final will be live on RTÉ2 tomorrow with a 2.30pm (Irish time start).
Also in action tomorrow are the O'Donovan brothers from Cork (Paul and Gary) after they too made the final with a third-place finish.
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