Irish rower Philip Doyle said 'he begged for his job back' as a doctor to help in the fight against coronavirus.

Doyle had put his medical career to one side to focus on the Tokyo Olympics but as soon as the event was postponed he was on the phone to ask to go back.

He started work again at Newry's Daisy Hill Hospital last Wednesday.

"I was only on the phone last week begging for a job. The medicine was there long before the rowing was ever in my life, it's always been my main number one driving force.

"I think I was a bit begrudging in the beginning, having to give all of me to the rowing so this break allows me to finish off my foundation year," he told BBC Sport.

While he has returned to medicine, Doyle is still targeting a medal at the Olympics next year with his double sculls partner Ronan Byrne.

"Myself and Ronan have put ourselves into a position where we can really fight for a medal. 

"I've said it to myself so many times that I'm a medal contender and I want to prove that right and prove that we can bring a medal back."