Polish sports representation preparing for Invictus Games 2025 ended the first week of intensive training. Players grind form at the Military Training and Condition Centre in Zakopane, focusing on winter disciplines.
They are supported by exceptional Polish athletes and participants of erstwhile editions of the Games. Behind the players besides an active weekend full of sports competition, and before them another week of intense work.
FIVE GROUPING - ON THE WAY TO CANADA
From 9 to 20 December in Zakopane there is simply a 5th group of Polish athletics Representation preparing for Invictus Games 2025. Coming edition organized
Canada will be the first in past to include winter sports.
Polish representatives are presently training at the Military Training and Condition Centre, where they usage a comprehensive training facility, which includes, among others, gyms, swimming pool
and ergometers. The location allows players to prepare for winter competitions specified as snowboarding, cross-country skiing, biathlon or curling.
As the Colonel Dr. Katarzyna Rałędowska, manager of the Veteran Centre - Groups specified as this in Zakopane is simply a very crucial phase on the way to Canada. We prepare our players not only physically but besides mentally – helping them break barriers
and exploring fresh opportunities. The upcoming edition of Invictus Games, due to its winter character, poses fresh challenges to us, but I am certain that Polish staff will show their best.
INTENSIVE TRAINING AND BARRIER TRANSMISSION
During the first week of the group, players participated in various trainings, specified as curling in wheelchairs in Krakow, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, volleyball sitting, ergometer, biathlon and swimming. Many of these disciplines were completely fresh for them before the preparations for Invictus began.
One of the representatives of Sgt. at remainder Simon Mutwicki points out – Curling is completely fresh to me. It looks easy on the screen, but in practice it's not. As added by Colonel Naldowska – The Invictus competitions show that you do not should be a master in a given discipline. The point is to overcome your own barriers, prove to yourself and others that if you want to accomplish something, it's hard work – you can do it.
EXCEPTION OF THE SPORTS OF TRENDING MISTRISES
The first week of the group is besides the presence of outstanding athletes. Michał Ziętarski – Polish rower, Olympic from Rio de Janeiro (2016), 4 doubles), Tokyo (2021, 2 doubles) and Paris (2024, 4 double men) – supported the training of our squad on the ergometer. Katarzyna Skowrońska – 1 of the best Polish volleyball players, two-time European champion, who together with another German Gold medals – competed in the sitting volleyball training, and Krystyna Guzik (from the Palk house) – a Polish biathlonist, planet runner-up in the 2013 chase, three-time Olympic: from Turin (2006), Vancouver (2010), Sochi (2014) and PyeongChang (2018) – led for our representatives classes in biathlon.
Players were besides visited by Łukasz Kosiara – representing Poland during Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023. Łukasz competed in table tennis, indoor rowing and archery. Łukasz not only took part in training, but besides motivated and supported his colleagues, showing that athletics is not only a rivalry, but above all a therapy that helps veterans recover – both physical and mental.
AN ACTUAL WEEK OF FULL CHALLENGES
Last weekend, the players didn't rest. They participated in the 11th edition of the Kościeliska Cup in cross-country skiing and the 4th edition of the Silesia Cup – volleyball competitions sitting down. Participation
in these events is not only excellent training, but besides a large chance to integrate
and advance an active lifestyle.
Sport gives veterans a fresh goal in life. Invictus is an invincible competition. It's an amazing chance to do something together and break our own limitations, while at the same time building a community based
with support and trust – stresses Major Małgorzata Kalita, head of the sports squad of Polish squad at Invictus Games 2025.
NEXT WEEK – fresh CHALLENGES
The second week of the group will be equally intense. The representation will proceed preparations for winter disciplines specified as biathlon, curling or cross-country skiing and strengthen squad cooperation.
Every day of preparation is simply a step closer to Canada and show the planet that boundaries be only
In our heads. – concludes Colonel Dr. Katarzyna Rałędowska, manager of the Veteran Centre.
Invictus Games 2025 will take place on 8–16 February in Vancouver and Whistler. This event,
in which participants not only compete for medals, but above all exceed their own barriers, integrate and inspire each other.
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Invictus Games is simply a multidisciplinary sports competition for uniformed service members who have sometimes suffered a very serious injury as a consequence of their tasks. The originator and patron of this noble initiative is Prince Sussex Harry, himself a veteran. The main thought of Invictus Games is not to compete for podium seats and medals, and to usage athletics as a form of rehabilitation – to support veterans in recovery to physical and intellectual health. The first Invictus Games games were held in 2014. Our country has been taking part in the task since 2018 and the nationwide coordinator of the task is the Veteran Centre for Activities outside the State Borders.
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The Veteran Centre for Activities outside the State Borders in Warsaw is an organizational unit subordinate to the Minister of National Defence. The Centre serves as a centre in which veterans of activities outside the state, and the household of soldiers and military personnel who died during these activities, receive assistance, advice and benefit from legal and intellectual consultations. The Centre shall cooperate actively with the applicable ministries and non-ministerial institutions, NGOs and associations. Thanks to the open nature of the institutions, the Centre besides promotes the integration of veterans' environment around joint ventures and initiatives.
Martyna Wojenko
Veteran Center
