God & I: Mark Rohan

THANK you for joining me today, Mark. To start, could you share a bit about the religious education you received growing up in your family?

I grew up in Ballinahown, a small Irish village in County Westmeath, within a typical Catholic family. Our lives revolved around the village church and St. Colmcille’s National School. Father Kevin McCune, the local priest, was a key figure at school. We started and ended the day with prayers, and boys like me took turns serving Mass, which we enjoyed—not least for the break from classes!

At home, faith shaped our routines. My grandparents were deeply religious; my grandfather paused work daily for the Angelus, and evenings often included family rosaries. Secondary school with the Marist Brothers continued this focus on faith, education, and community service. Growing up near Clonmacnoise, a historic 5th-century monastery, deepened my appreciation for Ireland’s spiritual heritage.

Beyond your family, who has been the most influential person in helping you grow in your faith?

Alan Kerins, an Irish sportsman who profoundly inspired me. Alan took a year off to volunteer in Africa, working alongside two missionary nuns. One managed a school for children with disabilities, while the other, Sister Catherine, ran an orphanage.

In 2014, I had the privilege of joining Alan for a 10-day volunteering trip to Zambia. Witnessing his selflessness, dedication, and commitment to improving the lives of others was transformative. His charity work, now in its 20th year, continues to inspire me to live with purpose and service.

Could you share with us the circumstances of your 2001 accident, and how it influenced your life?

At the time I was working as an electrician on Ireland’s electrical networks. I also played football at a high level. One Sunday morning, while riding my motorcycle to a football match, I had an accident and collided with a tree.

The crash left me paralyzed from the chest down, with a T2-T3 spinal injury. I also suffered punctured lungs, broken ribs, and damage to my heart. I spent two weeks in intensive care at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Dublin, followed by six weeks in the spinal unit in Dún Laoghaire. Rehabilitation lasted seven months.

Remarkably, a local priest helped expedite my admission to the spinal rehabilitation center. This support, alongside the care I received, laid the foundation for my recovery and future.

How did your experiences in Gaelic football and wheelchair basketball shape your approach to cycling and your mindset as an athlete?

Sports had instilled discipline, a clear focus on goals, and the understanding that success requires hard work and support from others. After my accident, these principles were invaluable in helping me regain independence. Playing sports taught me to embrace vulnerability and ask for help when needed – a lesson that became a strength.

Winning two gold medals at the 2012 Paralympics in London is a monumental achievement. How did you prepare physically and mentally for such significant events?

I started cycling in 2007, transitioning from training 5-6 days a week in basketball to a dedicated cycling regimen. My employer allowed me a three-day workweek initially, giving me time to train and recover.

By 2010, after winning the World Championships, I took a career break to train full-time. This included traveling to Portugal during winters, training 20 hours per week, and maintaining strict discipline with nutrition to optimize performance. Mentally, I always believed that if I gave my best, success would follow. Gold medals weren’t my focus – I aimed to perform to the best of my ability.

What stood out to me most during the Paralympics was the power of community. When I had my accident in 2001, my fellow townsmen rallied together. They held a special Mass the Saturday after my accident, filling the church and sending countless Mass cards and good wishes.

Eleven years later, many of those same people celebrated my victories with me. It was a powerful reminder of the strength of community and faith in both our darkest and brightest moments.

Your classification as an H1 athlete involves competing with unique physical challenges. How do you stay fit and train effectively to perform at such a high level?

Competing as an H1 athlete certainly requires a lot of discipline, Father. My injury makes me more susceptible to chest infections and urinary tract infections, so I have to be especially careful with my health. That said, I genuinely love what I do. I enjoy the connection between the physical and mental aspects of training – it gives me a sense of purpose and accomplishment each day.

When you love something, it doesn’t feel as difficult. I focus on eating well and lean on the support of my coaches, fellow athletes, family, and friends for guidance. Over time, I’ve learned to figure out what works best for me and to maximize those strengths. Staying disciplined and consistent has been key.

Competing at the highest level requires discipline and focus. What role has your support network, including your family and coaches, played in your success?

My success would not have been possible without them – that’s for sure. My family has been my foundation from the very beginning. When I started cycling, we quickly realized how expensive it could be, especially for a hand cycle and access to top-tier coaching. My family made it clear they’d support me in every way they could, whether it was financially or emotionally.

My coaches were also pivotal. They invested so much time in creating effective training plans for both the short and long term. Beyond that, my local community stepped in to help raise funds when needed, and my employer gave me time off work while ensuring I had a secure job to return to.

Faith often plays a role in overcoming challenges. How has your faith influenced your journey as an athlete and as a person?

Faith has been central to both my athletic journey and personal growth. It has taught me the importance of acceptance – accepting who I am, where I am, and what I have. I’ve learned to trust that there’s a bigger picture, even when things don’t go as planned.

Growing up in the Church, patience was a key lesson. I’ve come to understand that there are things I can control and others I cannot. My role is to prepare, to be ready for the opportunities that come my way, and to trust that what’s meant for me will unfold in time. If opportunities arise, I embrace them; if they don’t, I move forward without regret.

This mindset has been vital in navigating life after my accident. It’s helped me accept the ups and downs of being an athlete, and the challenges of adjusting to a life-changing injury.

After the accident, I prayed every night for guidance, patience, and acceptance. Coming to terms with being paralyzed is a harsh reality, especially when it forces you to redefine your role in your community and adjust to a completely new way of life.

In 2001 there were no social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram to distract you. I had plenty of time to reflect, contemplate life, and think about the bigger picture. I began to see my circumstances as part of a greater plan. Perhaps there’s a reason I’m in this position – maybe it’s to help guide others facing similar challenges.

Today, I view my life as an opportunity to inspire and support others. I feel a responsibility to use my experiences to show that it’s possible to find purpose and fulfillment, even in the face of adversity.

How do you perceive God?

To me, God is community – a collective of people and souls guided toward a positive direction for humanity. I see God as a force that inspires us to be better – to care for each other, for the world around us, and for nature.

This perception of God reminds me that I’m part of something greater, something that thrives when I contribute positively. It gives me a sense of purpose, knowing that my actions can make a difference in this shared journey.

In your view, what does God ask of us as human beings?

God asks us for patience, acceptance, and a sense of vocation. Patience to endure challenges, acceptance to embrace who we are and what we have, and a sense of vocation to strive to be better human beings for those around us.

At its core, I believe God calls us to live with kindness and to do our best to uplift others. As human beings, while we’re here on this planet, we should aim to leave a positive impact – on people, on nature, and on life itself.

You currently coach athletes in various sports. Could you explain the courses you’re offering and share your coaching philosophy?

At the moment I coach about 30 athletes. Around half are para-athletes – cyclists – while the other half includes able-bodied athletes, such as retirees or people training for marathons. I primarily coach through an online platform, where athletes share their goals – like running a marathon in six months – and I work backward from there to create personalized training plans that fit their lifestyles.

My coaching philosophy is simple: family, health, and work come first, and then training. I emphasize consistency as the key to success. When you commit to a goal, the most important thing is to show up every day, follow the plan, and stay the course. With consistency, athletes arrive at their start line – whether it’s a race or personal milestone – in a calm, confident, and prepared state.

What advice would you give to young athletes, especially those facing physical challenges, who dream of excelling in their sport?

First and foremost, enjoy what you’re doing. Enjoyment is the foundation of everything. Without it, the hard work required to excel can feel overwhelming.

Second, patience is crucial. Excelling in sports requires relentless effort, especially at high levels where you’re competing against thousands of others with the same aspirations. It’s not for everyone, but if you enjoy the journey, it can be incredibly rewarding.

For athletes with physical challenges, it’s important to recognize that sport teaches acceptance – acceptance of who you are and your unique strengths. There will always be someone better than you, and that’s a gift because it drives you to focus inward, work on yourself, and grow as both an athlete and a person.

Finally, balance is key. Don’t let sport overshadow the other aspects of your life. If you can integrate it into a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle, you’ll be far more successful and fulfilled.

Looking ahead, what are your goals, both in sports and in life? How do you hope to inspire others through your story and your actions?

My goal is to inspire others through my actions, Father. Currently, I live in the Algarve, near a spinal rehabilitation hospital in São Brás de Alportel, Portugal. We’ve established a sports club for adapted sports, and once a week, we visit the hospital to engage patients in sports activities. Right now, we have about 40 patients, with 50 percent actively participating in some form of sport.

Looking forward, my dream is to develop a comprehensive program over the next 20 years that uses sports as a tool to improve patients’ lifestyles. This includes building a dedicated sports center within the next 5-10 years, and training and educating people within the hospital and local universities to sustain and grow this initiative.

At 43, I feel this is my purpose – to dedicate the next phase of my life to creating a lasting, positive impact in the community I now call home.

Does Saint Anthony hold a special place in your spiritual journey?

I’ve always felt a connection to the Saint of Padua. Interestingly, I have a sticker of Saint Anthony on my car. One of the builders working on my house in Portugal, a deeply religious man, put it there to look after me. To me, the Saint represents the importance of being able to ask for help when we need it, both spiritually and in life.

IRISH paralympic athlete Mark Rohan was born in Ballinahown, County Westmeath in 1981. A former Gaelic football player, Rohan’s life changed in 2001 when a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed from the chest down. Undeterred, he turned to handcycling and quickly rose to prominence in the sport.

Rohan achieved global success, winning back-to-back gold medals at the 2010 and 2011 UCI Paracycling Road World Championships. His crowning achievement came at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where he won two gold medals in the H1 handcycling time trial and road race.

Mark has developed a highly personalized, high performance coaching method offered to motivated athletes in cycling, endurance and Paralympic sports. Visit his website: rohancoaching.com