Sitting Grand Prix preview (9th November) - Heroes’ Maggie relishing sense of belonging 

The Help for Heroes player is still relatively new to the sport – in fact this weekend will only be her second appearance at a Sitting Grand Prix weekend – but already she feels welcome and comfortable and is relishing the matches to come. 

First dropping into the sport as part of the Invictus Games squad to play in Canada at the event held in Vancouver and Whistler in February, Maggie enjoyed the experience so much that she was inspired to join up with a team for the new English domestic season. 

Though the mum-of-two was unable to attend the first Grand Prix of the season, she has been an active part of her new team’s training sessions and is ready for the challenge that awaits her at Loughborough University on Sunday. 

But she knows that while the games will be highly competitive on the court, the levels of camaraderie and friendship off it will be equally prevalent. 

“I had never played sitting volleyball until fairly recently, certainly compared to some players, but now I love everything about it,” said Maggie. 

“I’ve always been sporty, but it’s been great to have a go at something that I had never tried before, especially as it’s a lot harder than it looks. 

“I have learned something new and physically it is really challenging. It’s great to have that team around you backing you up. 

“Playing sitting has been a great experience so far and I am looking forward to continuing that this season.”  

Maggie served as a Nursing officer in the RAF for 12 years and now works as a Clinical Lead for an NHS Team. 

Before joining the Invictus team she suffered from Complex PTSD, but feels sitting volleyball helped her get used to being around groups of people again.  

Maggie said: “Having PTSD was a difficult time... I spent two years at home isolated and not going out very much. 

“It meant it was hard when I first started to be around people again, but the volleyball really helped. It was challenging for me, but, at the same time, a good thing as well. By playing, I got better. 

“The Invictus experience almost feels like a dream now – it was almost like a mini-Olympics and made us feel great and like it really mattered. 

Sometimes you can feel like you lose your identity a little bit but then when you experience something like that it is amazing. 

“We came fourth despite not training as much as we could and as much as some of the other teams, so there was a real sense of achievement as well.” 

Growing up in Poland, Maggie was a competitive swimmer as she made her way through school, training twice a day, starting her first session at 6.15am. 

Playing a team sport offers quite a contrast, but the competitive instincts still kick in. 

“At high school I played standing volleyball in high school, because as a sport it is really popular there and more so than in the UK,” said Maggie. 

“I swam professionally as a swimmer and also swam for the RAF as well, so it was a big part of my life being in the pool and in the gym so much. 

“But having played a bit of volleyball, it was something I was really keen to have a go at through Invictus and I really enjoyed it. 

“My dad was disabled – a lower limb amputee – and he did lots of wheelchair racing. The beauty of sitting volleyball is that everyone can play together, whether they are disabled or not. 

“For me, when you see how people who are double and triple amputees get around the court and play so well, it is so inspiring.” 

Help For Heroes lost to Sitting Bucks in last year’s National Cup Final at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering. 

This time, however, Maggie believes that the serial champions can be deposed – with more regular training sessions aiding the H4H team’s preparation. 

She said: “We believe we can win it this year. Last year we didn’t have many training sessions at all before the games. 

“This year we are going to have training before all of the games, and some extra sessions in between, so we are going to be able to work on things a lot more.” 

“I can’t wait for the games now and hopefully the team can do well!”

Find out more about the Sitting Grand Prix here

and how you can get involved in sitting volleyball here.