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Tokyo 2020 - Ireland beat Team GB to earn first medal of Games

Tokyo 2020 - Ireland beat Team GB to earn first medal of Games
© Reuters
Ireland take rowing bronze after a nervy finish to the women's four.

Ireland are off the mark at the Tokyo Olympics, claiming a rowing bronze in the women's four after a tight race with Team GB.

The Irish quartet - Aifric Keogh, Eimear Lambe, Fiona Murtagh and Emily Hegarty - decided to sprint early in the final 500m, edging in front of GB to cross the line 1.06s ahead and snatch the bronze.

The result came just minutes after Team GB duo Graeme Thomas and John Collins were also forced to settle for a fourth-place finish in the men's double sculls final.

For Ireland, who have brought their largest ever team to the Olympics, the medal marks another success in the sport after brothers Gary O'Donovan and Paul O'Donovan memorably claimed a silver in the men's lightweight double sculls at Rio 2016.

Meanwhile, Australia recorded a new Olympic best time of 6:15.37 to take the gold medal, just 0.34s ahead of their challengers from the Netherlands, who clawed back more than a second during the final 500m.

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