Celebrity Health – Philip Doyle

This summer, Team Ireland rowers Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch made history when they clinched a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The pair won the first-ever men’s heavyweight Olympic rowing medal for Ireland during the nail-biting final of the men’s double sculls. Originally from Banbridge, Co. Down, Philip juggles his rowing career with his job as a doctor. This was his second time competing in the Olympics, having represented Ireland in Tokyo in 2020.

Hello Philip. Congratulations on winning a bronze medal at the Olympic games in Paris! Can you describe the experience for us?

The Olympics this time around was one of the best experiences of my life so far. We were removed from the Olympic village as the rowing venue was too far of a journey. This allowed us to really come together as a team and produce two of Ireland’s seven medals. We were then set loose on the city of Paris and just gorged on its people and culture. The French and Irish we met everywhere in the city were so full of excitement for the Olympics and there was an amazing feel to the city.

From holding medal ceremonies for the Gendarmerie and holding babies to having champagne and crème brûlée sent to our lunch table when we were recognised, it was amazing. The memories and experiences I’ve accumulated in the last 12 days are priceless.

The tinge to the whole thing is the colour of our medal. Daire and I have been on the podium for five of the last six international races, with one close fourth place after four weeks’ training together. The heights we have reached together, I would never have dreamed of. The night before the final we thought we would be fighting for gold in the final sprint with the Dutch. Little did we know we would be fighting for silver (a fight we then lost) but an Olympic medal is exactly that and they don’t come easy or often so we are so, so proud.

When did you first start rowing, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I was a late starter to rowing. My life before rowing was a concoction of sports, but mostly I played hockey, having represented Ireland underage at a Europeans during secondary school. I was unfortunate not to get into medical school the first time, as my personal statement for applications was very heavily sports-orientated. I then stepped away from sport and gathered a wealth of healthcare experience. This allowed me to secure a place at Queen’s University Medical School. It was there, that after trying hockey and basketball for a year, I found rowing through a work friend. So, at the age of 22, I stepped into Queen’s Boat Club with their coach Mick Desmond and that was that. I found a productive way to channel my energy. I just loved being back into competitive sport after my hiatus to get into medical school.

What was your training regime like in the run-up to the Olympics?

Training before the Olympics for a sprint endurance sport like rowing is brutal. The intensity is always high, and the performance has to match it. It’s like wringing out a cloth – you want to get the most from it that you possibly can and empty every last drop. We train a minimum of twice a day with a half day off every week. We do that for four weeks straight and the last week you are spent completely.

How do you fuel your body for tough training days?

Fuel is so important. Food is fuel for us, but we also supplement a lot. We have moved to a very intra-training focus. We consume vast amounts of carbohydrates while we train –usually mixed into water. We can consume up to 200g of carbohydrates per session. Then we try to eat solid, nutrient-dense foods around that. We do, however, have huge calorie targets, so we eat “bad’ foods very regularly to hit them.

What supplements do you take?

Supplements become increasingly important when you are sapping every bit of energy from your body. I take Creatine and Zest Active by Revive Active every morning to start my day, then after lunch I take my Joint Complex. These supplements boost my mental performance and immune system, providing the extra support my body needs to cope with the demands of my busy training schedule. They would be my everyday supplements all year but become more vital in the last few weeks. We also use recovery powders with a mix of carbohydrates and protein after a session and the carbohydrate mixes during the sessions to get the most from our bodies.

Can you sum up how it felt to represent Ireland at the Olympics?

Representing Ireland in any capacity is always such an honour. Wearing the green jersey is always special and the Olympics is the biggest stage for my sport and for most sports. Irish rowing is going from strength to strength and it’s wonderful to be part of that.

International rower and Olympic Bronze Medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Philip Doyle, is a brand ambassador for super supplement experts Revive Active. For more information, visit reviveactive.com and follow @reviveactive on Instagram.

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