Margus Hopp

May 24, 2023
5 Min read
Recovery Stories

Margus Hopp had two great passions in life, the first being his career in the Estonian Armed Forces and the second is Estonian pop-folk dancing.

Margus had been deployed twice to Afghanistan but it was his deployment to the Central African Republic where he picked up a bacterial infection that shut down his nervous system.

He could barely lift a spoon to his eat breakfast and sadly he was unable to keep dancing and continue on with his career in the Army.

Slowly over four years, Margus has regained mobility but he is not back to his previous level of activity yet.

"I have two choices: one choice is to get well and the other one is to get well’. For me, there were no other options," Margus' mentality carried him through his rehabilitation process and to three consecutive Invictus Games'.

He's back dancing as well and has made some great friends within the Estonian Invictus team and has found a new passion in Sitting Volleyball.

"It’s become a great thing for us because we’re competing now in tournaments and we’ve come to know each other so well now. The Estonian army is very small and everyone knows everyone. But now we know each other’s backgrounds, our lives, our jokes and so on. And it’s been amazing for us to be here.

Margus Hoop

Invictus Games Orlando 2016, Toronto 2017, and Sydney 2018 - Competitor and Team Captain of Team Estonia

More case studies

Canada

Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025

It was back to Canada for the seventh Invictus Games and the historic debut of winter sports with the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.

This was the first Invictus Games to be held across two sites with the city of Vancouver hosting 6 adaptive sports and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the winter sports resort of Whistler introducing 5 winter sports to the Invictus Games Community.

In total, 23 Nations and 534 competitors came to this Games and the Opening Ceremony set the record for the highest attendance ever at an Invictus Games with 40,000.

Find out more
Team UK

Scotty Darroch

Scotty served for ten years as a Corporal and Training Instructor in the UK Army’s Royal Logistic Corps and has operational service (1995-2004) in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and Kosovo.

Scotty had an extremely difficult period during his military career and when he subsequently left the Army. He wasn't aware at the time that he was suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues.

Scotty attempted to take his own life multiple times and it took him nearly 20 years to reach out and ask for help and he was finally given a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Sport became a big part of Scotty's recovery journey and found help through leading an active lifestyle which eventually led him to competing at the Invictus Games and been appointed the Team UK Powerlifting Captain at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017.

"My time competing at the Invictus Games was humbling and rewarding and I have found great support and camaraderie from the We Are Invictus Community."

Find out more
Team Ukraine

Yulia (Taira) Paievska

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

Yulia (Taira) Paievska, is a Ukrainian solider, paramedic and founder of the volunteer ambulance corps, ‘Tiara’s Angels.’ The injuries she sustained during her tour of duty meant both of her hips had to be replaced with titanium endoprostheses, and she was left to cope with partial disability.

Taira, the only woman on the Ukrainian team, was due to compete in archery and swimming at the Invictus Games The Hague in 2022. However, her capture by Russian soldiers meant she was unable to take part. Anna-Sofia Puzanova, her 19-year-old daughter, entered in her place and was awarded a bronze medal in archery.

Taira was released from captivity in June 2022 and since then has become an international symbol of bravery and sacrifice and finally competed at the Invictus Games at Düsseldorf 2023.

Find out more
Germany

Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023

The city of Düsseldorf was transformed into 'A Home For Respect', when it welcomed the Invictus community to Germany for the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023.

Düsseldorf hosted 550 competitors and their friends and family from 21 nations from the 9-16 September 2023. The sixth Invictus Games hosted medal competitions in 10 sports and featured the Invictus Games debut of Table Tennis. Düsseldorf 2023 made history as it was the first Invictus Games to feature participating nations from South America and Africa with the respective debuts of Colombia and Nigeria.

Find out more
Team UK

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.

Find out more