A Journey of Sport, Recovery and Helping - Ben Gallagher | International Coaching Week

“Coaching allowed me to stay a part of the Invictus Games environment, an environment that I love, where nations come together and enjoy a sport I love.”

As we continue our look at the power of coaching, we wanted to share the wonderful story of Team UK's Ben Gallagher, a member of the Invictus Community that has found a true calling with coaching his fellow teammates and wounded or ill service members.

Ben served with the Royal Signals and sustained significant injuries during active duty in 2019. He was shot numerous times and received blast injuries to both arms and upper body, thankfully he was wearing protective body armour that saved his life.

Ben's left arm required extensive reconstruction involving tendon, nerve, and skin grafts, and he also suffered surgical injuries to both legs.

He credits his stubbornness as starting him on the pathway to recovery, as once he was told he couldn't do something, he put his all into doing it.

This led Ben to rowing and soon he was giving it his all and setting British records in the process.

Selected as a member of Team UK for the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023, Ben captured gold in the four-minute Indoor Rowing endurance race and tried Powerlifting and Cycling.

Ben felt that competing at another Invictus Games was not for him and wanted to focus on elite level rowing competitions alongside helping the next group of Team UK competitors.

We got to chat with Ben as he watched those he mentored compete at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 and hear just how important and life-changing coaching has been for him.