Paddling local creeks and rivers near Dublin from a young age, Thomas Dunphy became accustomed to life on the water. Like many children, his early years were filled with fleeting interests – “football boots and basketballs piled up in the garden,” Dunphy laughed – but kayaking proved different. It stuck around.

Dunphy joined a kayaking club in his early years, began competing internationally, and never looked back. Behind a brilliant legacy and lifelong dedication to his craft – including being crowned the 2025 Canoe Freestyle masters world champion – Dunphy holds close another reason he has dedicated much of his life to the water: a commitment forged the day he was told his sister had tragically passed away.

Years earlier, as a young teenager, while building rafts and messing about on the river with friends, the group encountered a man cutting grass nearby. He told them that if they were serious about being on the water, they should make the call.

That evening, Dunphy went home and said: “Mum, I’m going to start kayaking.” The completion of the course had confirmed to Dunphy that this was his true passion. He knew it was time to purchase his own kayak.

Soon after, he joined a whitewater kayak club, and it was evident he had a natural ability on the water. While instructors eased the newcomers into the basics, Dunphy jumped into the kayak, rolled, and resurfaced effortlessly – as if he had been paddling for years.

“We didn’t really know freestyle was a discipline,” said Dunphy. “But we quickly realised we were doing tricks that no one was doing.” By 15, he was competing at the World Championships.

As an adult in the early 2000s, recession hit Ireland hard and Dunphy headed out to North America, taking a job as a roofer in Canada. He put in his 900 hours, with hopes of turning his temporary home into a permanent one. “If you did over 900 hours over the course of a season’s work, you could apply to stay,” said Dunphy.

He was working hard for permanent residency, until one moment changed everything. He received a phone call saying that he needed to come home as his sister had unexpectedly passed away.

The night before, Dunphy and his sister Emma had spoken about Star Wars cinema tickets, Christmas plans, and flights back home to Ireland. She tragically passed away in her sleep, and suddenly Dunphy’s life had shifted completely.

Dunphy explained that “I thought to myself, what am I going to be doing with myself for the next while, I needed something to get me out the house and keep me out of trouble… so I just got up and went to the river.”

On December 13 – the day after Emma’s funeral, Dunphy made himself a promise: he would paddle every day until the end of the year. But grief complicated even the simplest joy.

“When I did anything, I felt as though I couldn’t enjoy it because my sister could’ve been there,” he said. Still, he knew kayaking was something she would have encouraged, and therefore – it carried him through.

When the year ended, Dunphy came across a blog post from another paddler attempting a full year of consecutive kayaking. The paddler made it to day 100 before dislocating his shoulder, ending the attempt.

“I said I’d try to go for a year – just to see if I could make it past him,” said Dunphy. “I did it no problem.”

One year became two. Two became five. The milestones kept growing, as did his determination to surpass any existing records for consecutive days of paddling.

Even with a heavily travel-filled schedule, he always found time to paddle. He’d set off on the waters at 04:00 in Ireland, catch a direct flight to Canada, just to get there for the evening and jump back out on the waters - knowing he couldn’t miss his opportunity to keep his streak going.

Countries visited by Dunphy during 10-year challenge

“A couple of times I’ve got cardboard boxes out from a supermarket, and some duct tape and made a quick kayak,” he laughed. “Worst case, I still had to get out there on the water.”

After years of continuous paddling, exhaustion set in. Even lifting the kayak off the car felt like an expedition. Despite all pain and difficulty, he said: “I just kept pushing through, because I knew I wasn’t going to stop.”

Dunphy continued to explain that “I’ll stop when I do something significant, when I hit a certain event, and then I hit the 10-year mark. Once I hit that mark, I felt relaxed again.”

As a young paddler, the focus was winning – recognition, titles, proving himself. Now, at 40, perspective has shifted.

“Now I’ve got a feather in my cap,” he said, referring to his master’s gold medal at the 2025 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships in Plattling, Germany. “The essence of freestyle is back. I’m not worried about competitions anymore, I’m more relaxed - and now I don’t know when I’ll stop, if I’ll stop.”

As the interview drew to a close, it was clear that for Dunphy, that since the passing of his sister, the meaning of kayaking had changed. It became about movement - through water, through places, and through life itself.

What began as a personal tribute has grown into a lifelong commitment to health, community, and helping others find their way on the river.

Now, as he looks ahead to new countries, new rivers, and the next generation of paddlers, Dunphy carries a deeper sense of perspective. His focus has shifted from chasing personal success to ensuring others feel supported, inspired, and capable of reaching their own goals.

Whether it’s offering guidance to a young kayaker, sharing stories with friends on rivers across Europe, or simply getting out on the water on a cold Irish morning, his passion remains unchanged.

“Don’t paddle to keep fit,” said Dunphy. “Keep fit to paddle.”

It is advice shaped by experience, loss, ambition, and gratitude - a reminder that staying active is not just about performance, but about longevity, connection, and joy.

For those searching for motivation, or a reason to explore the world from a different perspective, Dunphy’s journey offers a powerful message: find what drives you, stay consistent, and let it carry you forward, one river at a time.