Daniel Collins (rower)
Daniel Collins is an Irish indoor and on-water rower. He competes for the City of Derry Boating Club and has won a national title at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships. He has also represented Ireland in the World Rowing Indoor Championships.
Early and personal life
Collins was born in Letterkenny, County Donegal and grew up in Newtowncunningham and Derry, Northern Ireland. He attended St Columb's College in Derry and later Manchester Metropolitan University's School of Art.Collins is a first cousin of Irish former professional road racing cyclist and Beijing 2008 Olympian Philip Deignan.
He is 185cm in height and has a wingspan of 195.5cm.
Rowing career
Indoor rowing
Rowing for City of Derry at the 2025 Irish Indoor Rowing Championships, Collins won gold in the men's 30–39 2,000m race and finished sixth in the men's open 500m. He later competed in the 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships, representing Ireland in the men's open 2,000m event and ranking 61st in the world. Collins also represented City of Derry and Ireland at the 2025 British Rowing Indoor Championships.At the 2026 Irish Indoor Rowing Championships, Collins won silver in the men's 40–49 2,000m race and rowed the anchor leg of the senior mixed team 2,000m relay for a City of Derry crew of four who finished in third position.
Weighing 85kg, he competes in the heavyweight category.
On-water rowing
Collins began competing in on-water Rowing Ireland events with City of Derry in 2025. He competed in a quad crew at the 2025 Erne Fours Head of the River and also raced in a club quad at the 2025 Lagan Autumn Head of the River.Other activities
Collins was referred to the Western Health and Social Care Trust's eating disorder service in 2017 and was discharged in 2021. He has discussed in regional media interviews his long-term struggles with mental health, body dysmorphia and disordered eating prior to his rowing success.He has also taken part in community events, including presenting Duke of Edinburgh's Award badges at Lisneal College.