We are inactive fighting, but this time in the sports arena – say soldiers who form the Invictus Games team. In February they will participate in the first always winter games. They'll go to Canada to fight for medals, but above all to show that there's nothing impossible for them. We compose about the preparations for this competition in the January "Army Poland".
– Thanks to Invictus Games I returned to sports. I haven't participated in this competition yet, and I've already won. I have overcome my own weakness," says Captain Peter Maletka. To this day, he feels the effects of an accident on a mission in Afghanistan in 2008, and doctors cannot find the origin of pain. Despite his illness, however, he decided to compete in the veteran games.
Annual preparations
Two-week group of Polish sports squad Invictus Games 2025 At the Military Training and Condition Centre in Zakopane, it began with a few-mile walk of the Valley behind the Gate. “It was snowing, so it was not easy,” the contestants recalled, admitting that her struggles compensated the beautiful views covered with white pines. The weather turned out to be a dream for winter sports. Already the next day, players could embark on snow-covered cross-country and downhill ski trails to grind the form before starting at the Invictus Games sports competition, which will take place in February in Canada. The Polish Invictus Games Foundation, founded by a associate of the British royal family, Prince Harry, invited for the 4th time to participate in the event. From 8 to 16 February, more than 500 players from over 20 countries will meet in Vancouver and Whistler at sports arenas. They will compete for the first time in winter sports: alpine and classical skiing, biathlons, skeletons and curling in wheelchairs, but in addition in indoor rowing, volleyball on sitting, swimming, rugby on wheelchairs and basketball on wheelchairs. For these competitions 19 Polish players He's been preparing for almost a year. Many of them have never practiced sports in which they will compete in Canada.
Team Power
– During the 5 groups, we tried to integrate the team, which is made up of players debuting at Invictus Games – says Mariusz Pogonowski, head of the Polish sports squad for the games. In his opinion, he managed to make a good squad whose members support each other. This calls for Polish representation: “One team, 1 heart. Poland’. erstwhile that scream comes out of 19 throats, feel the power of this team. “We respect and support each other, which gives us the strength to fight. due to the fact that we are inactive fighting, only now in the sports arena – provides spit. Andrzej Kuciński, a veteran from Afghanistan who inactive feels pain damaged on the mission of the spine and torn muscles of the right leg. This is his second approach to the IG, due to the fact that in 2023 he was on the reserve list, coached with the players, but did not go to Düsseldorf. The fellow congratulated him on winning 15 medals, including 8 gold. – I wanted to be on the main list to represent our country internationally. We did it! – he says.
The fact that it is an honor to compete in sports competitions with an eagle on the breast is besides said by the another players. For instance, the staff. Dariusz Gaweł, a veteran of the Second PKW Amendment of Afghanistan, at which the medical committee ruled a 30% proceeding failure on his return from the mission. He is going to Canada as an ensign of the Polish team. - That was rather a surprise. I didn't anticipate my colleagues to trust me with that kind of trust," admits the officer. As he says, it is an honor that he will carry a white-red flag and introduce the Polish squad to the phase during the inauguration of the competition and the closing ceremony. “It will surely kill my heart more,” he admits. IG competitions supply quite a few emotions, and not just players. Prime Minister Katarzyna Rałędowska, manager of the Centre for Veteran Activities outside the State Borders, who accompanies veterans in their sports struggles, admits that he enjoys watching families support their loved ones and enjoy, regardless of the consequence achieved. IG Foundation invites families and friends of playersto thank them for supporting wounded soldiers in the rehabilitation process. – I feel pride in all medal celebration or competition graduation. Invictus Games shows the pure beauty of sport. There's no another competition for this kind of atmosphere. Players at the time of the IG fight each another and their own weaknesses, but they besides cheer each other. specified a rivalry is simply a actual fair play. Medals at the IG competition play a secondary function – convinces Colonel Rodziwska.
Feel the impact
Every morning, Major Małgorzata Kalita, head of the Polish sports squad at Invictus Games 2025, prepares a plan for the current day. “I gotta compose trainings for them in 9 disciplines all day,” says the officer. present before noon, the squad is going to Krakow to practice on the curling track, and on their return there will be a volleyball training on the sitting, they will besides practice rowers and swim. The curling track is located in Tauron Arena in Kraków. After 2 hours of driving, we scope the destination with a medium-crowded burial ground. On the spot, teacher Isabella Macina explains the rules of the game: “The player sits in a wheelchair, the extender handle, or peculiar stick, puts it behind the stone and pushes it forward.” It sounds simple, but in curling, details and perfect method are important. The hardest part is pushing a 20 kg stone with the right force. It must overcome nearly 40 m and halt in a ellipse with a diameter of over 3.6 m. This athletics requires patience and peace. You gotta feel the force of the impact – explains Colonel Robert Zachmacz, who lost his leg during the accident in the country. W Canada takes off Right in curling. He explains that it was the only winter discipline he could choose. At the IG competition, the officer will besides play volleyball sitting down. He besides trains this discipline between groups. Together with 2 sons who would accompany him to the IG competition, they set up a curling field in the attic. “I am happy that despite wellness restrictions I can do squad sports. Especially since athletics has always played a large function in my life and despite the accident this has not changed – says Colonel Zachmacz.
You will read the full account of the Polish team's preparations for the Invictus Games in the January issue of “Polish Armed Forces”.
