Darren Young is a fiercely competitive athlete. He is a former RAF Fire-fighter who struggled to come to terms with life as an impaired individual after he was discharged based on medical grounds. Sport massively assisted in getting him through and developing him into the strong, determined athlete the BVF has the pleasure of working with today.
From a young age he has enjoyed sport, but constant injuries have acted as a huge barrier to him. Then he discovered the world of sport for injured and impaired athletes and he began again.
He has tried and played a number of sports at the highest level, whilst also running his own fire and safety company, 1st Aid Fire. Due to his personal journey, he has a drive to improve the mental health and well-being of individuals, especially in impaired athletes, where challenges can be great. This drive has given him opportunities, and he is currently actively involved in the UK Sport Powered by Purpose Programme, a programme designed to develop athletes to use their voice for the greater good, and is a member of the BVF’s Social Impact Working Group.
“The UK sport powered by purpose programme is about empowering funded athletes to have greater ownership of how they can use their platform and voice to power positive change. “
Darren is also dyslexic, something that a lot of people have to contend with, but his story is encouraging, proving it has not limited him in setting up his own business and thriving in what he does.
Below is a spotlight interview with Darren:
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. How did you get involved in sitting volleyball?
In 2017 I did not even know about Sitting Volleyball; never seen it or heard of it. It was only when I applied for the Warrior Games and Invictus Games that I was introduced to the game. I remember walking in to a gym at Tedworth House and Charlie Walker the Warrior Games coach told me to sit on the floor when I am in his sports hall for Sitting Volleyball… I thought I don’t even know this guy, who does he think he is speaking too… I quickly worked out this was the Charlie Walker way. That day I shuffled around on my bum for 6 hours, going home with blisters on my bum and cuts to my hands… Welcome to Sitting Volleyball!
So that was you hooked, what did you find as the biggest challenge?
Yes I quickly got the bug for the game, starting to watch a few games on YouTube to see what I would have to do, and then the next training session came round.
I knew how to play standing volleyball as I played for Combined Services in Cyprus but I was never knew how to move on the floor as quickly as some of the guys in that training session did. Due to a bad back, and possibly, (looking back on it), carrying some extra weight the movement was always going to be a challenge… and being 47yr old…
Yes, I have heard that a lot. As well as being part of the BVF sitting squad are you still involved in other para sports?
That year, 2017, I was not selected for the Invictus Games but was given the chance to take part in the Chicago Warrior Games where I did swimming, discus and sitting volleyball. First I did 50m freestyle swimming, but I didn’t even finish the 50m doing the same stroke… haha I was that out of shape! Next 50m backstroke, and through grit and determination (and hating to get beat) I was pipped by 0.018 of a second for gold, but I was massively impressed with Silver especially after the freestyle. Then I turned to discus which I had not done in 31 years from school. Although I was quite good at school I didn’t expect to win gold, discus in my eyes was easy and I threw 31m with a bust shoulder!
Then the main event; sitting volleyball. We had only spent a few hours training as a team, and that showed on the court, getting beaten in all of our games. However, that was the start of the real Sitting Volleyball journey.
So is this when you got involved with the BVF development squad?
Corrie Mapp, who I had trained with for the Invictus Games, asked if I would be interested in training with the GB Development Squad. It was a case of why not, but I knew I’m wasn’t good enough, I had only been playing the game a few months…
From my first game at the Warrior Games to representing GB in Holland it would be a long hard slog, one which was 5 years a 1 day.
From not knowing the sport to playing for GB took me 5 years and 1 day… wow, surely that is some going?
Yeah that is really impressive, I think its important to get the message out that you don’t need a background in the sport to get involved in the sitting game.
So what are your playing highlights to date?
Between the Warrior Games in 2017 and the GB Cap in 2022, there was H4H Grand Prix Winners Medal and Invictus Games Silver Medal in Sydney. I hope they’ll be many more highlights this year with a good programme of competition and training camps.
What is the plan for the future?
Now at 53 years old, I have more drive and passion for the sport which has given me a new lease for life. Although the body is in constant pain, the back is crumbling and the fitness is hard to keep up; I have managed to lose some weight and feel as fit now as I did when I was 40 years old. I’m still struggling to get classified after 5 years due to the lack of classifiers or classifying events, but I hope to have the evidence which they have asked for to make it official.
This will allow me to dream about the Paralympics; if we qualify and if I am selected I will be I will be 54 years old and heading into the elite category within sport. This is the one thing that keeps me going to the Grand Prix and the GB training, the end goal and retirement.
Retirement is something which I have thought about, and this is why I am doing my Coaching Qualification (level 2) and taking part in the Project known as Powered By Purpose, whilst I deal with clinical depression on a daily basis. I need something to be part of, something to keep me focused… Sitting Volleyball is doing that for now, but retirement is just around the corner. Although I don’t have a high profile within the game I want to use the platform I do have for the greater good… #PoweredByPurpose
Thanks a lot for sharing your story with us, congratulations on your appointment to the UK sport #PoweredByPurpose project, we look forward to hearing all about it very soon. If you want to find out more about Darren, please take a look at his website http://www.darrenjyoung.tv/
