Damian Browne is a former professional rugby player, adventurer and keynote speaker hailing from Galway, Ireland. A long and fruitful sixteen year career battling on the rugby pitches of The Celtic league, English Premiership and French Top 14 Championship, saw Damian achieve many honours including winning the 2012/13 Heineken Cup with Leinster Rugby.
During his down time from the intensity of professional sports Damian indulged his passion for travel and adventure, visiting more than 60 countries on 6 continents and challenging himself in a different way with a three week expedition into the high altitude Pamir mountains in Afghanistan, summiting Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, climbing Mont Blanc, France and Gran Paradiso, Italy.
In April 2016 Damian took on the might of the Sahara desert, completing the 6 day, 257 km Marathon des Sables, also known as ‘The Toughest Footrace on Earth’, carrying everything he needed to survive on his back from the start of a unforgettable journey through the Moroccan Sahara. After the race and a period of reflection, Damian committed to taking on the incredible challenge to row across the Atlantic Ocean, alone!
18 months of physical, mental and technical preparation led to the 14th of December 2017, where Damian kissed goodbye to his parents and shoved off into the unknown. 63 days 6 hours and 25 minutes later he crossed the finish line of the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge arriving in Antigua some 28kgs lighter, to a hero’s welcome. Having endured 9 meter swells, a badly cut head, capsizes, encounters with Whales, sea & pressure sores, losing an oar and complete steering failure with still over 2000 nautical miles to go to Antigua, Damian said, “A hell of an experience, hell of an adventure and a hell of a challenge. It was exactly what I wanted from the challenge, I wanted to be pushed to my limits mentally and physically and I got exactly what I wanted.
“I’m on a mission to live an extraordinary life. A life full of challenges, extremes, learning, risk, growth, fulfilment and actions. A life of integrity, sincerity and courage. My life will be my masterpiece”