Ireland’s Zoe Hyde and Margaret Cremen claimed a superb World Rowing Championships gold in the women’s double sculls final in Amsterdam on Friday evening.
The duo had impressively won their semi-final on Wednesday to earn a crack at making the podium.
Such was the quality of their performance midweek, expectations were high that they could bag a medal today – and so it proved.
In lane one, Ireland made a solid start, sitting fractionally behind the Dutch crew after 500 metres.
As the Netherlands upped the pace around the 1000m mark, Hyde and Cremen responded, with Switzerland back in third.
🥇Gold for Ireland!!
Ireland’s Margaret Cremen and Zoe Hyde claimed a superb and dramatic World Rowing Championships gold in the women’s double sculls final in Amsterdam on Friday evening
Live on RTÉ Player pic.twitter.com/lSrXPu59P5
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 28, 2026
Netherlands remained in front with 1500m gone, but the Irish pair produced a magnificent final 300 metres to reel them in and take the glory.
It was a sweet and emotional moment for a strong partnership, as U2’s ‘Beautiful Day’ blared over the tannoy to celebrate their success.
In May, Hyde and Cremen won bronze at the World Cup I in Seville.
“It’s unbelievable, we just worked hard all winter,” Cremen told RTÉ Sport’s David Gillick afterwards. “We just made every session count. Just in such shock right now to be honest.
“World champion, whaaat??!” – Zoe Hyde and Mags Cremen are in a state of disbelief after their magnificent performance to clinch gold at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam 🏅 #rtesport pic.twitter.com/HbOazxw2A6
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 28, 2026
“From the second we got to Amsterdam, we just had this undeniable belief in ourselves and in each other. We just kept that momentum throughout the week.
“It’s just paid off and it’s incredible.”
“We’re in complete disbelief,” Hyde said. “World champion! Whaaat?
“We knew it was going to be a fight. In the last 250, I had a look – and I think Mags did too – and saw they’re [the Dutch] right there. We can do it, we can go. We just horsed it down the course and we got over first!”
Ireland’s Zoe Hyde and Mags Cremen receive their gold medals and stand for Amhrán na bhFiann after winning the women’s double sculls at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam pic.twitter.com/xnDS18uJjr
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 28, 2026