Gearóid Towey: 'This massive wave lands and I don’t know which way is up. I felt like I was destined to drown'

Former world rowing champion Gearóid Towey reflects on his career, the mental challenges he faced and overcame, and the Atlantic storm which almost claimed his life.

Gearóid Towey, who now lives in Sydney, in front of a picture of himself rowing for the UTS Rowing club in the city back in 2001. Towey founded Crossing the Line, a service to support athletes’ mental health, wellbeing, and transitioning to life after sport.

In recent years, Gearóid Towey has gradually become infatuated with UFC, or at least one certain aspect of it. It started when he heard the victorious middleweight Darren Till explain that his pre-fight dread was once so great that he was hoping for a serious injury in the build-up. Boy, did he know that feeling.

Earlier this year, he watched Dustin Portier describe his emotions in the dressing room prior to his win against Conor McGregor: “I felt bad. Flat. I didn’t want to be here…”