Comox 19 Wing members Cpl. Emilie Poulin, chief warrant officer (retired) Rock Ferland, Maj. (retired) Nick Holyome, and Sgt. (retired) Chris Zizek recently returned from representing Canada at the 2022 Invictus Games in Netherlands.

By all accounts, it was a week to remember.

The Invictus Games, founded by the Duke of Sussex, are an international sporting competition for ill and injured serving members and veterans. The mission of the Games is to honour the service members and veterans who are ill or injured, not necessarily related to their service, by using the power of rehabilitative sports to help them on their journey of recovery.

Team Canada consisted of 28 athletes in 2022, competing against close to 500 other athletes, representing 16 other countries.

Poulin competed in powerlifting and sitting volleyball. Ferland competed in cycling, wheelchair rugby, as well as track and field, while Holyome competed in indoor rowing and sitting volleyball.

Zizek competed in indoor rowing, swimming and seated volleyball.

B次元官网网址淲heelchair rugby is so much fun,B次元官网网址� said Ferland. B次元官网网址淚 would like to join a team in my community after the Games. I also enjoyed cycling very much. I now use it as therapy to disconnect from the everyday life problems.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been discovering all the sports that our team is able to compete in,B次元官网网址� said Holyome. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been having fun rowing and learning how to hit a volleyball while scooting around on my backside.B次元官网网址�

Poulin said powerlifting was not something she would have considered before this opportunity.

B次元官网网址淧owerlifting - I had no interest to do it for myself, but the Invictus gave me a reason to try and I love it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 found a new strength.B次元官网网址�

Zizek also discovered a new sport through his Invictus experience: indoor rowing.

B次元官网网址淩owing has been my new found love,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淎fter having both hips replaced, I needed to find an activity that was low impact, but still a good workout. Rowing seemed to be a perfect fit. Since joining the team, IB次元官网网址檝e competed at the United States Marine Corps trials and many virtual rowing competitions, including; Canadian, Australia and British indoor rowing championships. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a blast!B次元官网网址�

Holyome is a fierce advocate of recovery and rehabilitation through sport.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not as young, strong and fit as I used to be, but I have used this period to train and build myself up to my B次元官网网址榥ew normal,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.

Holyome encourages other ill or injured veterans to consider taking advantage of all the support systems they can.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 realize how much support was truly available for CAF members that need some help,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 resisted for a long time and it made things worse. My advice is to reach out and talk to someone - call Soldier On, the CAF helpline or talk to a trusted person in the medical system. That first step is the hardest, but IB次元官网网址檓 proof that it is hugely beneficial.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淩each out, reach out and reach out,B次元官网网址� added Ferland. B次元官网网址淵ou are not alone, we are all going through struggles and sharing with other will only make your feel better.B次元官网网址�

According to Ferland, it requires constant effort to be able to accept your B次元官网网址榥ew selfB次元官网网址� after an injury and significant life event.

B次元官网网址淢y teammates gave me the energy to keep going forward. They also made me realized to not take everything for granted.B次元官网网址�

Canada has been awarded the 2025 Invictus Games, to be co-hosted by Vancouver and Whistler.

B次元官网网址揥ith files from Canadian Armed Forces

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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