Fiona Murtagh claimed gold in the women's single sculls at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai.
Murtagh, part of the Olympic bronze medal-winning Women's Four at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, delivered a powerful performance in the final. She led from start to finish to fend off pre-race favourite Lauren Henry of Great Britain in a photo finish, securing the gold medal in a time of 07:12.27, just 0.03 seconds ahead.
The Galway rower suffered a mid-race wobble but steadied herself to remain in front. She admitted post-race she was happy with how she dealt with the setback.
"Then I hit the red buoys and I caught a bit of a wobble and I was like 'oh no, have I lost it?' But I dug deep and crossed the line and we were right beside each other, I really did not know who had won it until I looked at the screen and saw my name," she said.
Murtagh started rowing with Galway Rowing Club and now rows with the University of Galway Boat Club. Des Ryan, Director of Sport and Physical Wellbeing at University of Galway said that her gold medal win was "nothing short of extraordinary".
"She is an inspiration to all of us here at the University, particularly our student athletes who can see what is possible with dedication and hard work," he added.
The President of University of Galway Professor David Burns remarked that Murtagh's victory is a "pinnacle of a remarkable career and a phenomenal level of dedication, talent and athleticism that is required to compete in elite rowing".
"Winning world championship gold in the single sculls - the gladiators of rowing - confirms her place among Ireland’s sporting heroes. She will be an even greater inspiration to current and future generations of athletes at the University and much further afield," said Professor Burns.
Team Ireland amassed two gold and two bronze medals at the 2025 World Rowing Championships. Just thirty minutes after Murtagh's winning performance, Fintan McCarthy and Mags Cremen also secured gold in the mixed double sculls.
