Exploring the Sports and Wellness Hub

Undergraduate student Fitsum Gondallo shares her experiences of the Sports and Wellness Hub, from rock climbing and swimming, to discovering a new passion for volleyball. 

What the sports centre offers: 

The University of Warwick sports centre, also called the Sport and Wellness Hub, is known for its rock-climbing, gym, and swimming facilities. It is especially popular for its free, student-friendly rock-up activities. You can book any facility via the University of Warwick sports app after logging in with your university email.

The climbing wall 

If you are the kind that seeks challenge, strategic thinking, and adventure, Bouldering may be just right for you. You can choose a difficult or easy route, and on the way to solving how to climb the wall, you may find your people and solve the problem together. On the other hand, if you are the kind that enjoys climbing high walls alone or with a friend, you can attempt to climb the 15-meter-tall wall. You can lead climb or top-rope climb, whichever one you prefer.

Gym and swim

If you are not the type for arm-heavy challenging activities but want to improve your overall health and increase your daily activity, you can get a gym and swim membership which enables you to access all of their facilities. I personally have an annual membership as I play volleyball and want to strengthen my body while remaining flexible.

The swimming membership comes along with access to the sauna room, which I highly recommend as it helps with muscle fatigue. The gym can be found on the first floor, and the swimming and sauna rooms can be found on the ground floor. Both are remarkably close to each other. You may find you are like me and end up using all 3 facilities one after each other. I often go to rock-up, then the gym or swimming, then the sauna room to relax. At the end of the day, I feel exhausted and end up getting the most peaceful sleep, leaving me full of energy the next day and ready to take on whatever challenges life throws at me.

Finding your sport                                                                                                                       

Finally, if you are a student just like me who didn’t know what to do at the start, try all the sports available for free by booking on the Warwick Sport app. To name a few, there is volleyball, football, basketball, wheelchair basketball, netball, cheerleading, badminton, dodgeball, fencing and many more. These sessions are instructor-led, and all equipment is provided. Therefore, you can learn how to play the sport while having fun. You can book based on your level preference and find people  just like you who are exploring their options. Additionally, you can watch the competition and support your mates; this is also free, and seats are available.

I once didn't know where to begin, but slowly I started to explore one sport after another and finally found volleyball – a sport that makes me excited to watch, play and have fun even when I am losing.  A sport I had never explored before university, volleyball has enabled me to find my community and friends, which I cherish a lot. It has become a core part of my lifestyle and an addictive hobby I cannot let go of, and it has made my university experience better.

My top tips:                                                                                                                                                  

Explore all your options, leaving no space for regret. Use this opportunity while you have time and the ability to find what makes you feel happy and healthy. If finance is the problem, remember there are so many free activities, take advantage of them. Most of all, don’t give up easily and have fun!