It's about support, motivation and common respect. Therefore, regardless of sporting results, each veteran returns from these games as a winner. At Invictus Games, soldiers experienced on missions face their weaknesses. They fight, though not on the battlefield, but on the sports arenas. It was no different this year in Canada.
Andrew was 1 of the sureties in Polish representation at Invictus Games. For global competitions for injured soldiers and officers, which took place in February in Canada, he prepared for over a year. He was determined to win medals in cross-country skiing and hall rowing. During the race on cross-country he overtakes all the players on the route, but at 1 point he lost his balance and fell. He rose, however, a minute later another dumper came along and lost valuable seconds. Eventually, he reached the finish line with a 5th place. He swallowed the bitterness of defeat and did not give up. A fewer days later, he decided to buy back on the ergometer. Unfortunately, there was no luck, though he put all his energy, strength and passion into competition. After 4 minutes of rowing, erstwhile the justice whistled the end of the race, he fell off the ergometer. From fatigue he was incapable to stand up on his own. Tears flew over his cheeks as his colleagues escorted him to the locker room. After a fewer minutes, he recovered. He cooled down and... 2 hours later he re-entered the ergometer to compete at a shorter distance. He didn't get the medal. But Invictus Games is not a communicative about medals. It's a communicative about people who get up after all fall, who carry on after the mission, who re-stick life and decision on. Invictus Games is simply a communicative about soldiers who, although not winning medals, become heroes.
Direction: Canada
Plut. Andrzej Kuciński is simply a soldier of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Świętszów and a veteran of 2 abroad missions – in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the 13th PKW shift under Hindukush, he was the driver of Rosomak, under which a powerful charge exploded. Kuciński was then seriously injured, and the effects of this event – physical and intellectual – he felt for many years. He came out of his life's corners with the support of his loved ones, therapy and physical activity. any time ago he liked the thought of Invictus Games and already during the erstwhile edition of the competition – in Düsseldorf – he sought a place in Poland's representation. At the time, it failed, Kuciński was in reserve, but this time he was in the primary lineup. The Petty Officer and 18 another veterans took part in the first half of February The seventh edition of the games organized by the Prince Harry Foundation, a associate of the British royal family. According to the thought of the games, each veteran representing his country for the competition can go in company with his loved ones, so in Vancouver and Whistler, where the competition was held, Andrzej was accompanied by his wife and 2 sons.
The games held in Canada were of a peculiar nature. This is the first time multidisciplinary event held in winter. Players representing 23 countries, a full of more than 500 people, faced sports competition curling in wheelchairs, biathlon, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, Skeleton and swimming, sitting volleyball, in indoor rowing and rugby in wheelchairs and basketball in wheelchairs. Only in these last 2 disciplines did Poles not compete.
– Polish representation in the Invictus Games competition competed for the 4th time. We started in 2018 in Sydney, then they were The Hague And Düsseldorf, and now Vancouver. Our competitors, who erstwhile spilled blood on the battlefield, compete present in sports arenas and show that they are invincible – reminds Colonel Dr. Katarzyna Nałędowska, manager of the Veteran Centre for Activities outside the State Borders. It shows how crucial it is that players come here with their families. – It is absolutely exceptional in these games that this is how the Invictus Games Foundation pays tribute to families and close veterans. It is simply a thank you for their dedication, support and presence in the regular investigation into the wellness and fitness of soldiers. The thought of the competition stems from the belief that the full household is suffering with the injured soldier,” stressed Colonel Rodziewska.
Full text in 3rd issue of “Polish Armed Forces”.
