HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- In just five days, 550 competitors representing 17 nations from around the world will compete against each other at the Invictus Games 2017 in Toronto. Before the lights and the cameras start rolling and the competition heats up, members of Team US have already started to bring it in the first day of a three day training camp at Hofstra University. The team, comprised of individuals from each service and Special Operations Command, has been training on their own for months to prepare and are excited to finally be practicing together.
"It's hard to train for a team sport on your own," said Navy veteran Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Shannon who will be playing sitting volleyball for Team US. "You can work out and you can play the game, but you have to play and practice with the people you're going to be playing with if you're going to win at Invictus Games."
The team sports, sitting volleyball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball, spread out to different areas of the David S. Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex gym floor on the campus of Hofstra University for their first practice. However, you wouldn't have thought that if you were there. All three teams looked competition ready as coaches went over strategies and athletes familiarized themselves with each other's style of play. While several athletes may have played together before, the practices the next few days will help them gel and build team chemistry.
"Having these practices is huge," said retired Army Spc. Anthony Pone. "I've been playing wheelchair basketball for a long time, but I haven't played with the people here. Being able to spend a few days getting to know them and how they play is going to help a lot come game time."
As volleyballs are spiked on one side, wheelchairs crash into each other on another during rugby practice. But there is an intense focus across each of their faces, no matter the sport, as they all learn to work together and help each other. After all there is a standard to uphold for this year's team sports athletes. At last year's Invictus Games Orlando, Team US completed a gold medal sweep of the three team sports and the 2017 Team US is looking to do the same in Toronto.
In five days the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 will begin, but for the next three, Team US will be in Long Island coming together, getting better and preparing to take on the world.
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