Ben Gallagher
BEN GALLAGHER
EXPLORER & PARA ROWER
Ben grew up in Birmingham and found school and learning through childhood difficult. Aged 17, he decided to join the British Army and in July 2005 attended basic training at the Army Training Regiment, Lichfield. Ben went on to have a successful military career deploying worldwide on numerous exercises and operational deployments, completed many courses and participated in a mix of sporting activities.
In 2019 whilst on active duty, Ben’s world turned upside down. He was involved in an incident that has since changed his life. He was shot numerous times and received blast/fragmentation injuries to his upper torso and both arms, without a doubt, his body armour saved his life. Ben was stabilised in hospital and underwent many operations one of which was extensive surgery to reconstruct his left arm with tendon, nerve and skin grafts and as a result he now has surgical injuries to both legs.
Ben was involved in a traumatic event and has experienced a long period of recovery with many months of rehabilitation. During this period, he felt lost and isolated, unable to come to terms with what had happened. Ben would often break down, experience heavy emotions and suicidal ideations alongside constantly asking himself “why me?”. Subsequently he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and underwent Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with a clinical psychologist.
Resilience, optimism and determination are qualities that highlight Ben’s consistent drive to succeed.
In 2012 Ben completed the All Arms Physical Training Instructor (PTI) course and in 2014 qualified as a Personal Trainer and CrossFit Coach. Always keen to broaden his knowledge and develop his skill set, Ben has gone on to complete courses in performance enhancement, corrective exercise, nutrition, mental health and strength & conditioning.
He now shares his experiences of dealing with complex trauma and overcoming adversity before going on to achieve world first and record breaking challenges. Ben is an advocate of mental health having suffered mental illness and been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He is an outdoors enthusiast that enjoys testing himself both mentally and physically through sports, tough endurance events and outdoor expeditions.
British Rowing - Ben often used a Concept 2 rowing machine as part of a gym routine or for exercise, however post injury he found it very difficult to sit on a erg. Through determination and drive Ben would not be defeated and rowing became a challenge, building up strokes, time and distance till rowing became ‘comfortable’ again.
Ben has raced at the British Rowing Indoor Championships and Festival of Indoor Rowing completing both with a medal finish and record time. He also competed at Invictus Games 2023. Due to his achievements Ben has progressed his rowing career and is now classified with British Rowing. He is on the GB Para-Rowing pathway and hopes to soon qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
INVICTUS GAMES – DUSSELDORF
9th - 16th September 2023
Through the power of sport, the Invictus Games support the recovery and rehabilitation of participating servicemen and women.
Men's IR6 4 minute Endurance Indoor Rowing - GOLD
Men's IRB3 Criterium Cycle– BRONZE
Men’s IR6 1 minute Sprint Indoor Rowing – 12th
Men’s IRB3 Time Trial Cycle – 5th