As the second and final regatta of the 2025 World Rowing Cup series gets underway in Lucerne, all eyes are on Olympic bronze medallist Fiona Murtagh, who continues her unexpected journey post-Paris in the Women’s Single Sculls (W1x).
For Murtagh, who earned silver at this month’s European Championships in her first full season competing alone, the regatta marks another milestone in what has been a very different year.
“If you’d told me after Paris I’d have a European silver in the single, I’d have said you were lying,” Murtagh admitted. “I had no plan after Paris. I really fell off a cliff. It was hard.”
Coming off a frustrating Olympic campaign in the pair with Aifric Keogh, one that followed a podium-filled season but ended without a medal, Murtagh faced uncertainty with coaching changes, retirements, and the daunting prospect of starting again.
“I was in the changing area and instinctively was sitting in the team area, but I had no team this time.”
A sweep rower by trade, she suddenly found herself training without a crew. It was her coach, Dominic Casey, who suggested a radical shift: why not try the single?
“I was crawling up and down the river,” Murtagh laughed. “So slow. But Dominic was great, there was no pressure, just support. He kept saying, “You’ll build confidence.”
And she did. With no clear targets, Murtagh embraced the solitude and technical challenge of sculling.
By January, she had won trials. By May, she had a European silver medal. Now, she lines up in Lucerne’s Heat 1 on Friday morning, among a stacked 27-boat field that includes Team GB’s Lauren Henry and Germany’s Juliane Faralisch.
“I feel stronger than ever. This chapter wasn’t planned, but it’s been exactly what I needed,” said Murtagh.
Though now racing solo, she’s still close with Keogh, with whom she won Olympic Bronze in Tokyo and then competed as a pair in Paris. Both are now working at JP Morgan.
“She might have stepped back from rowing, but she hasn’t left my life,” Murtagh said. “We are only ever a call away at work, and she FaceTimed me after the podium in Szeged.”
And while she’s embracing the solitude, Murtagh doesn’t rule out a return to team boats in the future.
“I don’t know what Dominic has in mind,” she smiled. “But the single has made me faster, fitter, and more confident — wherever I go next, this will have made me better.”
For now, she’s keeping it simple. “I’m just thinking about the heat. That’s how I got here. No pressure, just process.”
Irish Team Preview: Rowing Ireland Fields 19 Athletes in Lucerne
Murtagh is part of a 19-strong Rowing Ireland squad competing in seven boat classes this weekend at the Rotsee. With only two regattas on the World Rowing Cup calendar this year, points accumulated here will determine the 2025 overall champions. The other members of the team are as follows:
W1x | Alison Bergin
Racing alongside Murtagh in Heat 1 (Lane 2), Bergin returns to the single after competing in the quad at the Europeans. A former U23 World medallist in the W1x, she’ll be aiming for A/B semi-final progression.
LW1x | Siobhán McCrohan
McCrohan returns to the Lightweight Women’s Single, fresh off a bronze at the 2024 World Championships and a gold at this regatta last year. Mexico’s Kenia Lechuga Alanis, who won World Cup I, will be among the main rivals. McCrohan races Heat 1 at 8:22am IST (Lane 4).
W2x | Mags Cremen & Zoe Hyde
Fourth at the 2025 Europeans, Cremen and Hyde face a 16-boat field that includes dominant Chinese and US crews. They open in Heat 2 at 9:34am IST (Lane 1).
M2x | Fintan McCarthy & Konan Pazzaia
The European bronze medallists return against the same Swiss and Romanian crews that bested them last time out. They start in Heat 1 at 9:44am IST (Lane 2).
M2x | Paul O’Donovan & Daire Lynch
All eyes will be on Olympic champion Paul O’Donovan as he races heavyweight for just the second time, this time paired with Daire Lynch. Their heat is at 9:59am IST (Lane 3).
W4- | Magner, Hayes, Long & Feerick
With Olympian Imogen Magner returning, Ireland’s Women’s Four lines up in a 13-boat field that includes the USA, winners of World Cup I. Their Heat 1 is at 10:06am IST (Lane 2).
M4x | Colsh, Byrne, Murphy & Sheehan
Ireland’s Men’s Quad will need to navigate a strong field including Poland and European champions Great Britain. Heat 2 begins at 10:48am IST (Lane 3).
PR3 Mix2x | O’Donnell & Ní Laoghaire
The Lucerne regatta also marks the senior international debut of Sadhbh Ní Laoghaire, who partners Tiarnán O’Donnell in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls. O’Donnell recently won gold in the PR2 single at World Cup I. They race a preliminary heat at 1:50pm IST to determine lanes for Saturday’s final.
Sport for Business Future Proofing Irish Sport 2025
An event with leaders in the field looking at how Irish sporting organisations and sponsors can play at the top of their game in the Digital world. Scheduled for August 29th.
We will have speakers coming in from across Europe to share insight and inspiration on the rapid changes taking place in thinking and technology, from AI to Blockchain.
This might be one you cannot afford to miss.
Tickets on sale next month, but registration of interest below will guarantee you a place in the room.
Find out More about Our Sport for Business Events Programme Here
The Latest Sport for Business Podcasts
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
Check out more of our Sport for Business coverage of Rowing
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
Sport for Business is in planning for major events bringing together leaders in Irish Sport and Business across a range of subjects in the second half of the year.
On Thursday, August 29th we will host a special event looking at Future Proofing Irish Sport including the use of AI in sport.
Find out More about Our Sport for Business Events Programme Here
MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS
Rowing Ireland, as well as all the leading sporting and business organisations in and around the world of sport are among the 300+ members of the Sport for Business community.
This includes all of the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies, individuals interested in our world, and an increasing number from beyond these shores taking a keen interest in Ireland.
Find out more about becoming a member today.
Get the full benefit of a Sport for Business membership by joining us at one of our upcoming events, where sporting and business leadership come together.
Or sign up for our twice-daily bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.
Sign up for our News Bulletins here.
