Inspiring recovery through sports, esports and adventurous challenge

Darrell Ling

Darrell Ling is one of the contributors to the Heart of Invictus documentary series, launched online August 30th, 2023.

He joined the Navy as a marine electrician, serving in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) between 1986 and 1992. His involvement in various military responses over this time, including the Swissair flight 111 crash and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, had a major impact on Darrell’s mental health. In 2016, he was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress and major depressive disorder.

Darrell's injuries contributed to further isolation and eventually homelessness. Determined to put his life back together, he reached out to other veterans in Canada with whom he was able to build meaningful bonds.

This eventually led him to the Invictus Games The Hague 2020, where he successfully took part in the archery, indoor rowing and wheelchair basketball.

Beyond the Invictus Games, the Invictus Games Foundation also offers opportunities for recovery through sport and adventurous challenge, facilitated by the platform We Are Invictus. Darrell has taken part in numerous We Are Invictus opportunities, including several virtual London Marathons and the IGF Powered by Invictus virtual Rowing league. Having experienced the benefits of competing, first hand, he now feels passionate about inspiring others to see sports as a path to recovery.

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I assume that there is someone, somewhere, suffering the way that I have been. I hope that this gives them a nudge to participate in sports."

Selected to compete at the Invictus Games The Hague 2020

Archery, Indoor Rowing and Wheelchair Basketball

Took part in several virtual London Marathons, and the Powered by Invictus Indoor Rowing League

Darrell is a contributor to the Heart of Invictus Netflix series, produced by Archewell Productions and the Invictus Games Foundation

Meeting other competitors who understood his experiences, without needing an explanation.

Gabriel 'Gabe' George

Gabriel (Gabe) George is one of the contributors to the Heart of Invictus documentary series, launched online August 30th.

Gabe, also known as ‘the One-Armed Archer’, joined the U.S Navy in 2004 having trained as a corpsman. He spent two years on ship and served behind the wire at Guantanamo Bay.

In April 2008, he was hit by a driver whilst riding his motorbike. After spending three weeks in a coma, Gabe was left with a traumatic brain injury, spinal damage and a paralysed right arm, which required amputation. After the accident, Gabe realised he could still engage in sports, including archery. He learned how to use a device which allowed him to fire a bow by pulling the string with his teeth and went on to compete at the Invictus Games The Hague 2020 as part of the Team US archery, swimming and indoor rowing teams.

Despite his numerous serious injuries, Gabe maintains a positive outlook on life and is involved with various organisations, focused on helping other wounded veterans.

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“People tell me they are inspired by watching me overcome. As humans, we tend to repeat what we see. We share what makes us feel good — it catches fire and spreads. I find that feeling with recreational and competitive adaptive sports, and I hope to continue motivating and inspiring other overcomers everywhere."

Selected to compete in the Invictus Games The Hague 2020

Archery, Indoor Rowing, and Swimming

Teaches pickleball to veterans, races sailboats and is a scuba diver

Gabe is a contributor to the Heart of Invictus Netflix series, produced by Archewell Productions and the Invictus Games Foundation

"Physical activity is my therapy. Movement is my life"

Tom Folwell

Tom Folwell is one of the contributors to the Heart of Invictus documentary series, launched online August 30th.

Former sapper in the army, Tom Folwell competed at the Invictus Games The Hague 2020, captaining Team UK’s wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball squads, as well as competing in sitting volleyball.

Tom served in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2015, losing both his legs in a bomb blast whilst on foot patrol in Helmand Province. Standing on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) left Tom with life-changing injuries and brought his career to an end. The situation worsened as medics, headed for Birmingham, had to stop off in Cyprus so that they could tend to a blood clot that Tom had subsequently developed.

Since then, Tom’s recovery has also involved battling with sleep apnoea which developed as a result of the injury. This had a serious impact on his wellbeing but gave rise to his renewed appreciation for sport, in particular an interest in Wheelchair Rugby.

Beyond the Invictus Games, the Invictus Games Foundation also offers opportunities for recovery through sport and adventurous challenge, facilitated by the platform We Are Invictus. Not only has Tom competed in the Invictus Games but he has also taken part in virtual activities such as the Powered by Invictus Sitting Volleyball leagues. These opportunities helped to reinvigorate him, reminding him of how important it is to keep learning and improving.

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A lot of people when they leave the forces don’t have a clue what they will do, and the Invictus Games helps to give that support and give people back something that they lost. The Invictus Games has been huge and helped me get back into sport.”

Selected to compete at the Invictus Games The Hague 2020

Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby

Took part in the Sitting Volleyball Powered by Invictus League

Tom is a contributor to the Heart of Invictus Netflix series, produced by Archewell Productions and the Invictus Games Foundation

for Team UK's Wheelchair Basketball and Rugby teams

Vicki Ross

Vicki is is one of the contributors to the Heart of Invictus documentary series, launched online August 30th.

Former Warrant Officer, Victoria (Vicki) Ross, won gold in indoor rowing at the Invictus Games The Hague 2020. She also competed as part of Team UK’s Wheelchair Rugby team, securing silver after being narrowly beaten by the USA.

Vicki experienced a number of injuries during her time in the Army, including nerve damage, shoulder impingement and knee surgery, all of which left her with acute anxiety. Feeling physically, mentally and emotionally challenged, her journey to the Invictus Games gave her a new focus. It allowed her to explore her potential within an unfamiliar environment and ultimately rediscover the person she once was.

Beyond the Invictus Games, the Invictus Games Foundation also offers opportunities for recovery through sport and adventurous challenge, facilitated by the platform We Are Invictus. Vicki has also competed in various Powered by Invictus virtual leagues such as cycling, rowing and sitting volleyball.

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“I want to find my new identity, find my own self-worth, in turn helping those around me do the same, sharing the journey together. I want to be the one that defines me. I need my inner smile back and to kick start the new me.”

Selected to compete at the Invictus Games The Hague 2020

Indoor Rowing and Wheelchair Rugby

Took part in the Powered By Invictus Cycling, Rowing and Sitting Volleyball Leagues

Vicki is a contributor to the Heart of Invictus Netflix series, produced by Archewell Productions and the Invictus Games Foundation

"I want to be the one that defines me."

Tommi Søndergaard Hansen

Tommi Søndergaard Hansen joined the Royal Danish Army in 1991 and would serve until his discharge in 2005.

Tommi would also serve time in the Royal Danish Air Force and after his discharge he would work as a security officer in Copenhagen Airport for 15 years.

It was during his time as a security officer that he's Invictus journey began, as Tommi witnessed Team Denmark leaving for the first three Invictus Games.

"Little did I know of the steps I would take in my rehabilitation, and the outpouring of love from every nation participating in the games, I competed in."

Tommi would go on to compete at Sydney 2018 and The Hague 2020 and is further along on his recovery journey and continues to work to improve through sport and therapy.

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The Invictus Games brought me back from the brink and gave me the courage to reassess my identity. I have met people, who I’m in awe off.. people who should be dead, due to their injuries, but they shine during sports.

The Invictus Games Sydney 2018 and The Hague 2020

Powerlifting and Swimming

Served in the Royal Danish Army and Royal Danish Air Force

Wanted to find a new identity outside the Armed Forces

5 times to the Balkans

Dariusz Cegielka

Sport has always been a major part of Dariusz Cegielka's life. As child it was his "passion" and trained to be a professional decathlete while in high school.

Sadly, an injury stopped those professional dreams from coming true but sport continued to be a large part of his life.

Dariusz's life changed after sustaining a serious injury to his left leg on deployment to Afghanistan.

"It was the worst time of my life. My plans and dreams collapsed and my world was broken into pieces.’’

Dariusz found himself in a dark place, he struggled with alcohol and getting outside to be active.

However, one day he found the courage to see that his life needed to change and began his rehabilitation.

He rediscovered his passion for sport and the biggest breakthrough came when he met his girlfriend Paulina, who supported his journey to the Invictus Games The Hague 2020.

Dariusz enjoys sitting volleyball, swimming, football, jogging and cycling and is now a part of the Polish Para Volleyball Team that is looking to compete at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024.

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The Invictus Games makes my dreams as a little boy come true and gives me the possibility to get a medal after all. Sport has a positive effect on my daily life. It gives me a lot of mental and physical strength."

Invictus Games The Hague 2020

Athletics, Indoor Rowing, and Sitting Volleyball

Member of the 5th Engineer Regiment

Member of the Polish Para Volleyball Team

Deployed to Afghanistan