Damian Browne is an extreme adventurer, peak performance athlete and International keynote speaker from Galway, Ireland. During a 16-year career as a professional rugby player, Damian donned the colours of some of rugby’s European elite, including Northampton Saints & Leinster; where he won club rugby’s biggest prize, The Heineken Cup.
Since retirement from professional rugby, Damian has become one of the World’s foremost extreme adventurers; undertaking some of the most demanding physical and mental challenges on the planet, including the 257km Sahara Desert ultra marathon, The Marathon des Sables, climbed 5 of the 7 Summits, a renowned mountaineering feat & most recently created history by becoming the first person ever to row from New York City to Galway, taking 112 days and in the process become one of only a handful of people to have rowed the Atlantic in both directions.
Damian’s drive to explore his physical & mental limits is not exclusive to ultra endurance events and he is a multi-time Irish indoor rowing champion, holding all-time, all-category records for the 500m and 1000m distance.
For 25 years Damian has pursued his human potential, relentlessly pushing his body & mind to their perceived limits; forging himself & his character in what he deems “a crucible life”. Damian has shared his unique story, incredible experiences and deep learnings with multinational corporations, tech giants and World class sporting environments including NFL teams and International Rugby XVs.
Notable Achievements:
- Completed the Marathon des Sables, a 257km ultra-marathon across the Sahara Desert.
- Climbed five of the Seven Summits, including Mount Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc.
- Successfully rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the first person to row from New York to Galway.
To book Former Rugby Player, Extreme Adventurer & Speaker Damian Browne for your event, contact Front Row Speakers on +353 1 485 3991 or email welcome@frontrowspeakers.com.
Mindsets for Extraordinary: Explores various mindsets, attitudes and mentalities he employed in becoming the first person in history to row, 3000 miles, from Manhattan to Galway, Ireland.
Unlocking Human Potential: Damian retells the story of the night that changed the course of his life; “I pulled my hood over my head to keep the rain off and started running…“ and how he rewired his mind through his actions over the next 30 days to imprint a mentality that has served him in achieving extraordinary feats ever since.
Resilience and Mental Toughness: Drawing from his experiences in extreme environments, Damian shares strategies to build mental resilience and overcome significant challenges.
High Performance: Insights into achieving and maintaining peak performance, both individually and within teams, gleaned from his career in professional sports and extreme adventures.
Responsibility and Ownership: The importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and decisions, and how this mindset can lead to personal and professional growth.
Media and Speaking Engagements:
- Delivered a TEDx Talk titled “The hidden values in pushing your body to its limits.”
- Engaged with multinational corporations such as Facebook and EY.
- Addressed the Irish Rugby XV before their historic victory over the New Zealand All Blacks.
Quotes: “I don’t have any other goal when I speak, other than to be honest, authentic and present. I try and recall situations and experiences I have lived during my extreme challenges and adventures, through how I felt at that time, because being able to communicate those genuine emotions through one’s voice is what will have an effect on the listener.” – Damian Browne
”Damian spoke to the players and staff the week of the All Blacks test match in Dublin last November. Using footage from his Atlantic Row, he brought us along on his gruelling journey. Describing the many challenges that he faced, Damian also shared the mental strategies and processes he used, which helped him to get to the other side. The players were engaged throughout and it was plain to see that they were impressed by the will and determination shown by Damian. The players were in the midst of preparation to play the world’s number one rugby team so we were hoping for some of that determination to stick.”
-Joe Schmidt, Ireland Rugby Coach
“Damian’s talk was really impactful. At one point, I thought I heard a pin-drop in the room. A 10/10 performance. The attendees are still buzzing”.
-Jefferson Cowhig, Partner, Technology Consulting & Financial Services, EY Ireland
“We received exceptionally positive feedback from our team following Damian’s presentation. His story is remarkable, but it was his delivery – authentic, powerful and deeply engaging – that truly stood out. I cannot recall another off-site where the audience was so fully captivated throughout. A testament to the impact he brings”.
-Niall Loftus, Abbott
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