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Invictus Games Athlete Shows Children What Resilience Is All About



Commonwealth & Invictus Games athlete, Sean Gaffney, visited Pilgrim Academy, where he took the whole school through a workout, before giving an inspirational talk on overcoming adversity.


Commonwealth and Invictus Games athlete Sean Gaffney brought a message of true resilience to Pilgrim Academy in Immingham when he took the whole school through a workout, before giving an inspirational talk on overcoming adversity.

Sean joined the Royal Navy in 1989, where he remained for almost 30 years. He took part in a wide range of sports, including the field gun competition at the Royal Tournament in London. This is the world’s toughest team sport, involving hauling cannons and other major equipment across an assault course. 

Unfortunately, in 1991, while practising for the event, a 900lb gun barrel was dropped on his foot. In hospital he had to undergo 25 surgeries, resulting in a leg amputation below the left knee. Since then, Sean has also battled cancer twice, but through grit and determination has competed in both the Invictus Games and Commonwealth Games, where he represented Wales.

Sean’s motto is ‘Be good today, be better tomorrow!’ His visit to Pilgrim Academy on behalf of ‘Sports For Schools’ had the children’s hearts pumping as he put them through their paces with a mixture of four minute exercises on rotation. 

He explained: “We are not after fantastic athletes, we just want to see everyone working hard and supporting each other and trying their hardest to get through to the end, because for school children being active throughout the day helps them learn more quickly, and keeps their brains alert and active.”

Sean explained how his parents supported him and wouldn’t allow him to quit even when the odds were stacked against him.

“My mother and father developed my resilience at an early age. As a youngster I joined the cadets and that instilled more resilience and self confidence in me. After 30 years in the Navy you get used to knowing what you can and cannot do. People think we are arrogant, but it is not arrogance, we are just confident in our abilities and will always find a way through our problems,” he said.

“It is all about resilience and anybody can learn it. Everyone in this school, from the head teacher to the smallest of pupils, has survived the worst days they have had in their lives so far and, if they can learn that, then it gives them the armour they need to move forward and survive tougher things.”

Holly Thompson, Curriculum Leader for PE at Pilgrim Academy, said Sean’s message of determination had the pupils pushing themselves to do better in his workout sessions. 

“Meeting someone as accomplished and determined to achieve as Sean, despite all that he has been through, is a  fantastic opportunity for our children to realise that if you set your mind to it, you can achieve your goals,” she said. “The children are privileged to have met him and listened to his story and hopefully they will take away the message to always strive for what they want to achieve in life.”


Pilgrim Academy Year 6 pupils celebrate a great workout with Sean Gaffney. The Commonwealth & Invictus Games athlete took the whole school through a workout.

Commonwealth & Invictus Games athlete, Sean Gaffney, visited Pilgrim Academy, where he took the whole school through a workout, before giving an inspirational talk on overcoming adversity.

Nathan Reynolds who was given a band for working hard during Commonwealth & Invictus athlete, Sean Gaffney’s visit to Pilgrim Academy.

Sean Gaffney, Commonwealth & Invictus Games athlete, who lost his left leg below the knee in a freak accident, gives an inspirational talk to Pilgrim Academy pupils and staff on overcoming adversity.

Above and below: Pilgrim Academy pupils of all ages are put through their paces during an inspirational workout by Sean Gaffney, The Commonwealth & Invictus Games athlete.