Gavan Hennigan (born 1981) is an Irish Extreme Environment Athlete. Background Hennigan grew up in Galway, Ireland. At the age of 16, he began abusing alcohol and drugs as a means to deal with his homosexuality and his father's alcoholism. Hennigan travelled abroad, living in a squat in Amsterdam and an unfurnished flat in London. He suffered blackouts from alcohol and drug overdoses, eventually entering rehab for his addictions when he was 21. Sports career By trade a saturation diver on oil rigs for over 10 years, in 2016 Hennigan became the "fastest solo competitor in the history of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, dubbed the world's toughest row." Hennigan completed the three thousand mile long journey in "49 days, 11 hours and 37 minutes." Charitable work Hennigan pursues snowboarding, mountaineering, ultra running, and rowing, raising over €12,000 for local Galway charities. References 1981 births 21st-century Irish people People from County Galway Irish sailors Living people Irish male rowers Professional divers Irish ultramarathon runners Irish LGBT sportspeople Gay sportsmen LGBT rowers