Back stories, sporting dreams and finding community – we’ve reached out to a few of our athletes to find out what makes them tick, and what they’re most looking forward to about Varsity 2026.
How did you discover your sport and how did you get involved at DMU?
I became interested in archery as a young teen when I read a series of books where the main character was an archer. Living in Poland there were no opportunities to do archery, so having a team at DMU was a dream come true.
That said, I was too busy and too broke during my undergraduate years to join the team, so I had to postpone it. When I came back for my Master’s in 2025 I knew this was the team I was going to join!
What do you love about playing sport at DMU?
The community is amazing! From day one it felt as if my teammates and I were already friends. We see each other every week, share happy moments and annoyances, and support each other - with shooting but also with personal issues and problems.
How are you feeling about competing at Varsity?
I remember spectating the archery Varsity in my first year at uni, and I genuinely pictured myself taking part in it one day. It feels kind of like a moment I have manifested from the beginning, and I'm happy to let this story come full circle.
How has playing sport added to your experience of uni?
Archery really has improved my social experience at uni. After my undergrad degree, most of my friends left DMU, so coming back for a Master’s without them was really daunting. To make new friends so early was a true blessing.
On top of that, I have recently been struggling with some health issues and haven’t been able to participate in sports as much as I used to. Archery is super inclusive and it has allowed me to get back into sport at my own pace, and has definitely helped me regain some confidence.
Has playing sport at DMU helped you in your life more widely?
Sport has motivated me to try to be more active again and has given me a new goal to strive towards. I think self-improvement is really important, and having a hobby to push me to be better, but which I also find fun and enjoyable, has been really important for me.
I think it’s also made me a bit more confident. Sometimes when shooting it can really feel like you're in the spotlight, especially during competitions. I think this is helping me manage my nerves in other situations where I might be evaluated on my performance.
The Varsity 2026 archery competition will take place on Friday 20 March at Charles Wilson Sports Hall. Find all Varsity fixtures and venues on the DMU website.
Posted on Monday 16 March 2026