Having watched her evolve from a young teenager learning the ropes of the sport for the first time to now seeing her officially crowned as a world champion, it’s understandable that everyone involved in Killorglin Rowing Club are a proud as punch of Zoe Hyde.
The Killorglin native and Olympian, alongside her teammate Mags Cremen, enjoyed the race of their lives over the weekend as they took home gold in the Women’s Double Sculls category at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.
Praising their hometown hero, the club said that way before she was donning the Irish vest and taking her place up on international podiums, Zoe’s rowing journey started right on the River Laune at the age of 13.
It was a journey that would lead her – after a brief stint away from the sport in university – to Paris and the Olympics and now, to the top of the world.
“Her achievement is an incredibly proud moment for everyone at Killorglin Rowing Club, but it is also a powerful reminder of what a strong junior pathway at the Club can make possible,” the club said following her win.
“From a small community club in Kerry have come three Olympians, Aileen Crowley, Monika Dukarska and Zoe Hyde. Behind those achievements are years of junior coaching, volunteers, parents and countless hours on the river, creating an environment where young people are allowed to discover just how far they can go,” the club continued.
“For every junior currently learning to row at Killorglin, Zoe’s journey carries a simple message: you have to start somewhere; why not here? Congratulations Zoe and Mags – World Champions! From Killorglin to the world,” they concluded.