Page 22 - QARANC Vol 14 No 7 2013

20 QARANC THE GAZETTE
brief at 0745 and then split into our different training groups and set off to the required sports location. The Americans certainly know how to do it when it comes to facilities for their military, especially the disabled. The swimming team had the choice of the Air Force Academy or Olympic Training Centre swimming pool. We were at altitude (7423 feet) and this affected our performance. It took many days to start to get used to it. Luckily the swimming competition was the last day of the Warrior Games and so we had a week to acclimatise.
Prince Harry arrived and we were individually introduced to him. He seemed very interested in the athletes, what sports we were taking part in and how we came to be there. He then played sitting volleyball for a while which got the invited press into a scrap to see who could get the best photos. I was asked to do an interview for Australian TV and also for BFBS and all of the other members of the team had interviews for newspapers and TV stations. We then went to the official opening ceremony for the Warrior Games where Prince Harry, the President of the Olympic Committee, the US Senator, the Defence Attaché and many past and present Olympic and Paralympics champions were sitting. We marched into the stage area in our GB Team tracksuits, behind
the US military and thousands of people were there who clapped and cheered. It was a very emotional moment and one I will never forget. Speeches over and the Olympic torch was passed from torch bearer to torch bearer. Our torch bearer was a Captain who had lost both his legs and an arm
in an IED explosion. The actual flame was lit in a joint effort by Prince Harry, Bradley Snyder (4 times Paralympics swimming champion and Missy Elliott the 2 x Beach Volleyball Olympic Champion). We had then been invited to Pembroke House by Prince Harry, which was a large mansion on the outskirts of Colorado Springs with beautiful gardens for an informal party with no press or TV allowed.
It was great and we got to know the Prince and our fellow team members much better. Then it was time for the Games to begin!
The Sitting Volleyball competition was very exciting and our team claimed the bronze medal after a
nail biting playoff against the US Naval Coastguard. Then it was the turn of the Shooting team and the Archery team. They did extremely well and got a forth and fifth place respectively. We did brilliantly in
the athletics, gaining a total of 10 medals, 4 of which were gold. I think one of the most moving things I saw when I was out there was watching the 1500m race. One of our GB team who was above the leg bilateral amputee had never run so far with his “stumps” on. It was sweltering hot and he was way behind but he just kept on going, fighting through the pain and gritting his teeth. This is what the Warrior Games are all about, not just winning medals but being the best you can and getting out there and just doing it, no matter what your ability may be. The cycling competition was also very tough, but
Team GB did very well and came 4th, 6th and 8th.
It was then time for the last sporting event – the swimming competition. I was entered in the Open category. This was for serving military and Veterans who had Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, MS, Orthopaedic injury and Learning Difficulties. I was very nervous and being the oldest female in the competition didn’t help, especially at the start of the first race which was the 100 meters freestyle and the other American competitors were very young and very fit looking, especially the Marines. Still, all to play for and I gave it my best shot, managed a personal best and came in 4th. This meant I qualified for the final. I also took part in the 50 meters freestyle final, and came 5th. I have never known camaraderie between different nations as I experienced at the Warrior Games. Everybody was rooting for everybody and whether you came in first or last it didn’t make a difference. The captain who had bilateral and arm amputations took part and he was last in his race, but the crowd went absolutely wild, standing up and shouting for him. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck. It was very emotional and most of the spectators were in tears, as were some of the GB and US team members. I came 5th in the 100 meter final but I knew I had given it my best shot and just being part of it was worth its’ weight in gold. We then rushed off, got changed for the closing ceremony, which again was moving speeches from different dignitaries and went out that night for farewell drinks with our team, staff and some of the US team. A great night was had by all and it cemented friendships that had been formed over the past 2 weeks. On arrival at LHR British Airways made an announcement to the passengers to let them know who we were and what we had been doing. We got a round of applause and congratulations from them. I collected my luggage and we could hear clapping and cheering outside the exit gate to the main arrivals area. When we came through there were flags and H4H staff, Band of Brothers, Band of Sisters, members of the public including partners and friends waiting for us. It was a lovely moment and I had a big stupid grin on my face as I
walked through.
This has been an invaluable
event which has redeemed some of what I had lost in myself after being Medically Discharged. It made me feel valued, not just somebody who had served in the military and was then dumped on the “rubbish pile” and forgotten. As Heather Small from the group M People sings “What have you done today to make you feel proud? My answer would be to have served with the best military in the world, to continue to experience life after active
service and still feel part of the Team. Thank you, Help for Heroes and Band of Brothers and my lovely partner. Without you I would have missed out
on this life changing experience.
Mary Wilson
Ex SSGT and QARANC