Sean Molino

How I Started:

I enlisted in the British Army at the age of 18, joining the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. Upon completion of my initial training, I was posted to London, where I was stationed adjacent to Buckingham Palace, undertaking ceremonial and protective duties for Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family.

Having maintained a strong commitment to physical fitness from a young age, participating in rugby and competitive martial arts, I was selected at 19 to attend the Army Physical Training Instructor (PTI) course. Following successful completion, I was appointed as a PTI within the Battalion, responsible for delivering structured physical training, maintaining fitness standards, and supporting operational readiness.

At 20, I attended the Junior Non-Commissioned Officers’ Cadre at the Household Division and the Parachute Regiment’s centralised courses. This programme focused extensively on leadership, discipline, and effective personnel management. I was awarded a distinction in recognition of my performance and leadership capability.

During my service with the Battalion, I also achieved sporting success, winning the Battalion Boxing Championship at light-heavyweight level.

My Greatest Achievement:

My greatest achievement is my family. Watching my children grow up and being actively involved in sport and fitness throughout their lives is something I am incredibly proud of. Living the values of health, discipline and resilience has always been important to me, not only professionally but personally as a father and role model.

I began my career in the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, where I served with pride and later qualified as a Physical Training Instructor. During my time in the Battalion, I won the light-heavyweight boxing championship, an achievement that reflected my commitment to physical excellence and competitive standards. My military service provided me with the leadership foundation, discipline and resilience that have shaped my career ever since. In 2019, I was invited to the Palace of Westminster to receive the British Citizen Award (BCA) in recognition of my services to health and wellbeing across the United Kingdom. Receiving this national honour and being able to place letters after my name was a defining and humbling moment in my career.

As Founder and Managing Director of Forces Fitness Ltd, I have built a multi award winning organisation that delivers health, wellbeing and resilience programmes to schools, sports teams, corporate organisations and communities across the UK. Supporting tens of thousands of young people and professionals to improve their confidence, mindset and physical health has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my professional life.

Under my teams leadership, Forces Fitness has been recognised nationally and regionally, including winning Education Award of the Year at the National Fitness Awards in 2021 and being crowned Welsh Business of the Year at the Business Growth Wales Awards 2023. These achievements reflect the passion, standards and purpose that drive everything I do.

Above all, I remain committed to inspiring others, whether through business, education, veterans’ initiatives or public speaking to lead with resilience, integrity and a commitment to long term positive change.

My Greatest Challenge:

One of the greatest challenges I have undertaken was selection for the Special Air Service (SAS). The initial phase of selection takes place in the Brecon Beacons, alongside approximately 200 candidates. With a failure rate of around 90%, it is widely regarded as one of the most demanding special forces selection processes in the world.

I progressed strongly through the early stages, successfully completing “Test Week,” by which point roughly 50 candidates remained. Throughout the course, I witnessed broken bones, voluntary withdrawals, and individuals reaching their physical and mental limits. The environment relentlessly tests resilience, endurance, and determination.

During the final stages, I began experiencing severe pain in my shins. As I started the last challenge, a 64km endurance march the pain intensified significantly. Determined to finish, I relied on painkillers and anti inflammatories to continue. However, 20km into the march, I knew something was seriously wrong. At the next checkpoint, a medic assessed my leg and confirmed I had sustained a stress fracture in my right tibia. At that point, my selection attempt came to an end.

Although I was deeply disappointed, the experience proved transformative. I took pride in knowing I had the courage to attempt something so demanding, rather than becoming someone who looks back with regret and asks, “What if?” The lessons in resilience, accountability, and perseverance have shaped who I am today. That experience of pushing beyond perceived limits and learning from failure has been instrumental in driving my mindset and success as an entrepreneur.

My Hobbies:

I am passionate about coaching rugby union and thoroughly enjoy working with a great group of young players and friends. I coach in the Bridgend Athletic RFC junior section, where our age group has achieved impressive success, including winning both the District Cup and the Ospreys Cup. Bridgend Athletic RFC is widely recognised for its thriving mini and junior rugby programme and commitment to developing young talent in the local community. In addition to coaching union, I am actively involved with the Bridgend Knights, a local touch rugby club that embraces players of all ages, from under 12s through to veterans. The club follows recognised touch rugby rules and provides inclusive, mixed ability opportunities for players to enjoy and develop their skills.

Outside of rugby, I maintain a dedication to physical fitness and enjoy structured weight training to keep myself strong and healthy. My involvement in sport, both on and off the field plays a key role in my lifestyle, combining a love of coaching, teamwork, and personal wellbeing.

My Future Aspirations:

I am currently a member of the Wales Touch Association Welsh training squad, working towards full international selection. My ambition is to secure a place in the final squad to represent Wales at the European Touch Championships in Vichy, France. The opportunity to compete at a major international tournament would be a significant milestone and a reflection of the commitment, preparation, and high performance standards required at this level of the game.

Beyond my own playing aspirations, I am deeply invested in the long term development of the players I coach. At Bridgend Knights, I am passionate about creating a pathway for our younger athletes to progress through the ranks and ultimately earn international caps. Seeing players develop from grassroots participation to representing their country would be a tremendous achievement for both the individuals and the club, reinforcing a culture of ambition, discipline, and belief.

Similarly, through my involvement with Bridgend Athletic RFC, I am committed to supporting our rugby union players in reaching district level representation. My goal is not only to help them improve technically and physically, but also to instil the mindset, work ethic, and resilience required to perform at higher levels. Contributing to the development of young athletes and helping them realise their potential, whether at district or international level is something I take great pride in and remain fully committed to achieving.