LONDON (Army News Service, Sept. 16, 2014) -- On the last day of the inaugural Invictus Games, several current, retired and former Soldiers captured medals during the swimming events here, Sept. 14. USA Team won silver in several other non-swimming events as well.
SWIMMING
Master Sgt. Rhoden Galloway captured a silver medal in the men's 50 meter breaststroke ISC, with a time of 39.01 and a bronze in the men's 100 meter freestyle ISC, with a time of 1:03.26.
First Lt. Kelly Elmlinger won a silver in the women's 50 meter backstroke ISC with a time of 50.89.
Lt. Col. Patty Collins also secured a silver in the women's 100 meter freestyle ISC, with a time of 1:33.47, beating Elmlinger by about half a second.
Sgt. Kawaiola Nahale captured bronze medals in the women's 50 meter freestyle ISD, and women's 50 meter backstroke ISD, with times of 36.44 and 44.72, respectively.
"It was fun. I think we are similar in abilities in most of our events, so we kind of pushed each other on, which was nice," Collins said.
Elmlinger said, "You always want to compete but at the end of the day, it's the friendship that's really going to last. The competitions are eventually going to go away, but you always hope the friendships are what stick around for many years."
SITTING VOLLEYBALL
First the bad news.
USA Team fell in straight sets to Team Britain in the sitting volleyball final Sept. 14.
And, the good.
USA Team kept it close throughout and was happy to take home a silver medal, but the game meant the final event for these wounded warriors so they took a moment to reflect.
"I just realized today that the only athletes who get an opportunity to do this are athletes who compete in the Olympics and Paralympics," said Sgt. Delvin Maston. "For us to be chosen, it's an honor to put the colors on and go out and display some talent."
"In every sport, in the team sport aspect, I've noticed that they've been well prepared" Maston said. "Those guys were well prepared and they stuck to their plan."
Though competition was fierce throughout each game, the competitors maintain a high level of respect for each other.
"I think it's bringing countries closer," said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chad Lukkes. "I've met friends from every single country out here who, without this experience, I probably would've never met."
"One thing that I've noticed is not only (have the games) changed each and every one of our lives but it changes the culture too," said Retired Sgt. Sean Hook. "I think this is changing the culture worldwide. This is just the tip of the iceberg."
WHEELCHAIR B-BALL
USA Team won its opening two games of wheelchair basketball Sept. 13, in convincing fashion over Denmark and New Zealand. They beat Denmark in the opener 18-12, and New Zealand in the second game of the tournament 14-5.
The Americans started fast in their first game, going up 8-0 and looking strong on defense against Denmark as they went into the half with the lead. The second half, however, proved more difficult as Denmark cut the gap early and seemed to find new life.
"We're putting up a lot of shots that are not falling, so we need to get higher percentage shots and take our time," said Retired Sgt. Roosevelt Anderson Jr., of the slow offensive start to the second half by USA Team. "Everyone's excited of course, but we just need to take our time a little bit and do what we practiced."
With about 4:30 left in the second half, the U.S. hit its first shot to make it 14-6, and continued to open the lead from there. They managed to hold on after a late charge by Denmark to win game one 18-12, and Roosevelt said they put an even bigger emphasis on defense coming into game two.
"Defense wins games," he said. "We felt that if we hit them hard with defense that it will open up our offense."
The team seemed to warm to the task in game two against New Zealand as they stuck to their defensive game plan and made it tough on their opponents. USA Team allowed only four points to New Zealand and came away with a win by the final count of 15-4.
Though the goal was a gold medal later in the day, Anderson said he's been soaking in the environment of the games more than anything.
"I never thought that I would be (in the games) playing wheelchair basketball in London," Anderson said. "It's an honor. Going from being bedridden to now playing wheelchair basketball, track and other sports, it's just wonderful. It really is. I'm really blessed to be alive, so my motivation is to inspire others; to get out and do things."
The building shook as USA Team and Team Britain played for gold in front of approximately 6,000 people.
"We couldn't hear each other talk," said Marine Staff Sgt. Jacob Bradley Rich. "You could hear it, feel it, it was so thick you could eat it."
"For all of us to be able to go out and play a sport is a privilege," said Sgt. Delvin Maston. "A lot of people don't get that opportunity, but to have that privilege in front of 6,000 people (and) we don't know how many people watching (on television), that's the ultimate of the sport. It was an awesome experience."
The athletes shared a similar sentiment about the games, stating they would love for the event to be repeated in some capacity.
"It's the first year that they've ever had it, and we're hoping that this takes off worldwide," said Retired Air Force Senior Airman Scott Palomino. "Maybe 10 to 15 years down the road we'll be able to show our kids that we were there for the first one."
USA Team fought hard in the wheelchair basketball final, but fell 19-9 to Great Britain to take silver, Sept. 13.
CYCLING
A recently retired Air Force lieutenant colonel finished his first-ever recumbent cycling race Sept.13. Dan Oosterhous placed 9th overall in his race, and said the track, which was the same track used for the 2012 Summer Olympics, proved difficult.
"It's a very technical course, you're only in a single gear for about 3-4 seconds," he said. "I felt like I was going through a go-kart track."
The track is a little more than one mile in length, with sharp turns, very few straight-aways, and various graded hills. Oosterhous said it offered little, if any, time for in-race recovery.
"It was essentially a 45-minute sprint," he said.
The races are timed, rather than assigned a specific distance. They are 45 minutes in length, and the amount of laps is dependent on the average lap speed of the lead group. Once the number of laps needed by the lead group to hit the 45-minute limit is determined, a number of laps is assigned and the racers are notified with a five-lap warning.
There are three different types of bikes used in the races, which are recumbent, hand-cycled and upright, and various categories of injuries under each type determine who races and when.
"At the Warrior Games we compete against the Army, Navy and Marines," Oosterhous said. "Now we're brought together as a team. It's been really neat to see us come together and work with each other."
Oosterhous said he is a big advocate for adaptive sports, and that the games so far have been the experience of a lifetime.
"I don't know how this can be outdone," he said. "I've never been a part of something like this. It's unbelievable what they've been able to do with the support that the fans, media and countries have given. I would love to see this continue. It's so important for the athletes and families."
POWERLIFTING
A retired Air Force staff sergeant took silver in the heavyweight power-lifting category Sept. 14. Melissa Coduti had her medal up before her final lift even took place, pressing 52KG.
Coduti said despite having the medal in the bag before her last press, her approach did not change.
"There's always pressure because you still want your third attempt to go up," she said. "You don't want to have a failed attempt. It's all technique and it's all a mind game too. If you stay tight and focused and just focus on the basics and the fundamentals, that weight will go up."
Coduti took first despite only being medically cleared to return to bench-pressing just six weeks ago. She said the competition was only her sixth time on the bench since her clearance.
The elated Coduti said she could not have been happier about her medal and the experience of coming to London for the games.
"Humbling. That's the best word to use," she said. "This is an extremely humbling experience. For (Great Britain) to get an entire country to rally behind 14 other countries is impeccable."
The power-lifting event is an individual contest in which each athlete completes three presses. The competitor and coach select a starting weight, and discuss and select each successive weight depending on how the athlete feels about the previous lift.
"We fight together, we heal together," Coduti said. "This has been the experience of a lifetime. I don't know how you ever top this."
INDOOR ROWING
Indoor rowing took place Sept. 13.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher D'angelos placed 5th in his category in rowing, and earned a silver medal with the rugby team. This is his first experience with rowing as a competitive sport, so he wasn't very concerned with the final outcome, but he said he feels he did well compared to his training times.
"We all know we're here to heal and get better," said D'angelos, who is active duty with the 819th Red Horse Squadron. "It's all about being one big team. Healing through sports is probably one of the best recovery tools."
"I didn't know what to expect come race time when they blew that horn," he said. "You just put everything you have into it. I felt like I blew my practice time out of the water. I did well, competed (and) did the best I can do. I just hope to keep improving and keep at it."
D'angelos said he is in the games to win and be competitive, but he values the experience of competing internationally and the healing properties of the games more than the medals. He encouraged those facing similar difficulties as the wounded warriors in the games to speak up.
"It's not about being a man or being tough," he said. "Talk about it, keep your head up."
The rowing contest is broken into two different types of events. The first, which D'angelos competed in, is a four-minute endurance race where athletes row as much distance as they can in the allotted time. The second is a one-minute sprint. Once the individual events are finished, team competition begins.
The U.S. placed third to earn bronze in the team-rowing contest.
Related Links:
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