Martine Wright British Paralympic volleyball player Date of Birth: 30.09.1972 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Martine Wright

Martine Wright, born Martine Wiltshire, is a British Paralympic athlete and volleyball player. She was born in London in 1972. In a tragic turn of events, Martine lost both of her legs in the infamous London Underground bombings in 2005.

On July 7th, 2005, Martine happened to be in the subway when the explosion occurred. She lost 80 percent of her blood and spent 10 long days in a coma. Following her coma, Martine underwent 10 months of surgeries and rehabilitation. Despite her life-altering injuries, Martine considers herself lucky to have survived, as 52 people tragically lost their lives in the bombings.

Prior to the incident, Martine worked as a marketing engineer and was described as energetic and restless. Adjusting to life in a wheelchair was challenging, but Martine returned to work. However, she soon realized that something wasn't right. It was then that Martine made the decision to pursue sports seriously.

Martine, who had always loved volleyball, discovered sitting volleyball, a sport specifically created for war veterans who had lost their legs after World War II. While the sport had gained popularity in the United States and Europe, it took some time for it to gain traction in Britain. In the beginning, Martine struggled with fatigue after training sessions, but as she regained her physical form, she found pleasure in the intense physical demands of the sport, especially the joy of winning.

Today, Martine Wright is a member of the British Paralympic team. Ironically, in sitting volleyball, having no legs is an advantage. Since players don't use their legs, they can move faster and increase their maneuverability on the court. Sitting volleyball is the only team Paralympic sport that is played without wheelchairs. Additionally, it is said that legs are not the only factor that determines success in volleyball – sitting players can outperform those who play standing.

Overall, Martine considers herself fortunate. Losing her legs and the ability to move in traditional ways led her to appreciate life and cherish every moment. She regained faith in humanity, as demonstrated by the actions of Elizabeth Kenworthy, who stayed with her in the exploded subway car and helped her survive until rescuers arrived.

After her injury, Martine gained a better understanding of herself and made the right choices in life. She got married, had a son, and realized that her previous formula for life, focused on career and money, had significant flaws. A few fanatics with explosives could shatter the best career and render all the money in the world useless. Surviving the bombing made Martine reevaluate her priorities.

Later, when Martine learned that her parents had spent two days searching for her in London hospitals while she lay in a coma, she realized that nothing was more important than family. The trauma also led her to discover her second true love, sports. Martine Wright says she is happy. She is grateful to be alive, to engage in her favorite activities, and to help others. She believes that the fateful morning in the London Underground was not a random event in her life – it was a sign, a stop, and a restart. And despite being seen as a hero and a brave woman, Martine admits that she is actually a coward and fears many things in life.