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  2. Invictus Games underway

Invictus Games underway

12 September 2014

Members of the Australian Team march into Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in London on September 10.

Members of the Australian Team march into Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in London on September 10.

(L-R) Former soldiers Danielle Parry, Paul Warren and Phillip Thompson during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London on September 10.

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Competition in the inaugural Invictus Games for wounded warriors is underway in London.

The Australian Defence Force and RSL Invictus Games team showed their fighting spirit in the athletics arena along with the competitors from 13 nations to win five silver medals and two bronze on the first day of competition.

Awe inspiring sporting action began at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre after a Drumhead Service to remember those who have died or been injured in conflict on what was the anniversary of ‘9/11’.

Australian athlete Mark Urquhart was awarded two silver medals and two bronze for his outstanding performances in the wheelchair race events and Dennis Ramsay won silver for his Shot Put and Discus throws.

Mark Urquhart said the day was the most memorable day of my life.

“It’s just surreal at the moment as I didn’t expect to place in the four events,” he said.

“His Royal Highness Prince Harry shook my hand and the Prince of Wales awarded me with one of the medals.

“Joe Townsend, the Paralympian wheelchair athlete from the UK is an absolute bullet, but the rest of field was also fantastic.

“The US team were very competitive and it was wonderful to see the Afghan representative, Maj Shah Jahan, have a great event.”

Agnes Young won a bronze medal for the Discus and Leading Seaman Kirsty-Lee Brown was awarded her gold medal for her Javelin win on September 9.

With the support of the 7,000-strong crowd of family, friends and supporters, including Prince Harry, the Duke of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales competition began for the 179 athletes (112 were field competitors and 128 track competitors) as they battled in the crucial qualifying rounds and heats to take part in the finals.

Teams ranged from Estonia’s two field athletes to the US contingent which arrived with 40 competitors in the field and 44 on the track.

The Australian Team Coach, Jason Bremner, said the first day of the Invictus games was a great day for sport and all the athletes who were involved, considering where they came from and the injuries they incurred while serving their countries.

“The performance and camaraderie between the teams and the atmosphere of the day was huge, with every athlete being cheered-on from first through to last place,” he said.

“There are the obvious visible injuries, such as the amputees, but there are many men and women who have sustained injuries that are not so evident, which shows that sport does and will play a large role in their recovery.

Jason Bremner said the Australian team was bonding well.

“The Invictus Games have brought together athletes from all over the country with varied military backgrounds in a short time,” he said.

“We are looking forward to the swimming and team events over the next two days.”

For more information on the Invictus Games visit: http://www.defence.gov.au/Events/InvictusGames/ or http://www.invictusgames.org/

Overview of Athletics Finals September 11

Name

Event

Time/Distance

Rank

Paul Warren

100m Men Ambulant IT2

21.13

5

Kyle Burnett-Brooks

100m Men Open

12.98

4

Mark Urquhart

100m Men Wheel IT4

21.36

3

Mark Urquhart

200m Men Wheel IT4

36.71

3

Mark Urquhart

400m Men Wheel IT4

1:13.74

2

Mark Urquhart

1500m Men Wheel IT4

5:12.47

2

Clancy Roberts

400 Men Open IT6

1:03.26

6

Clancy Roberts

1500 Men Open IT6

5:13.23

6

Bronson Horan

1500 Men Open IT6

5:14.65

7

Daryl Kirkhope

1500 Men Open IT6

5:31.65

13

Leon Seccombe

Shot Put Men IF1&IF2

9.00

16

Agnes Young

Discus Women IF1&IF2

21.83

3

Agnes Young

Shot Put Women IF1&1F2

7.38

6

Dennis Ramsay

Discus Men IF4&IF5

31.84

2

Dennis Ramsay

Shot Put Men IF4&IF5

9.43

2

Craig Hancock
Kyle Burnett-Brooks
Phillip Thompson
Paul Warren

4 x 100m Mixed Relay

61.58

5

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