A Standing Ovation For Invictus Games Medal Winners

Two Caerphilly county borough residents who recently represented that UK team at the Invictus Games have been formally congratulated by Caerphilly County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John Prosser and Donna Davies were congratulated on their achievements at a meeting of Full Council this week (Tuesday 19th July), with a standing ovation led by the Mayor Cllr Dianne Price. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John, who served in the military for more than 25 years and trains at Caerphilly Leisure Centre, won a gold and a silver medal in rowing at the Games. Donna, a former army corporal and a swim instructor with Caerphilly County Borough Council, won a silver medal in the cycling road race and a bronze medal in the time trial cycling event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services said, “We were delighted to welcome John and Donna to formally congratulate them on their achievements at the recent Invictus Games. It is great to see two people who have overcome adversity excelling in sport and representing their country at such a prestigious tournament. Both are fantastic role models for young people in our county borough and beyond, and we’re very proud of all they have achieved”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John Prosser got back into fitness training and then sport through the GP Exercise Referral Scheme, having suffered several parachuting injuries during his time in the military. With John’s increased confidence, he embarked upon more challenging activities and in August 2015, with support from Welsh Rowing and Llandaff Rowing Club, he began rowing again. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Donna Davies joined the Army in 2001 as an aircraft technician for the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers, and following a series of knee operations and lower back pain as a result, was medically discharged in 2013. She took part in various sports including football and swimming during her time in the forces, and has also kept active over the last three years with the Help for Heroes sports recovery programme playing a key role in this. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John Prosser said, “I feel very humble that the Mayor and Caerphilly County Borough Council members wanted to meet us at the council meeting and congratulate us both on our achievements at the Invictus Games in Orlando. I am honoured to have had the chance to represent the wounded, injured and sick veterans in the local community”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Invictus Games were held in Orlando in May. The games are the international adaptive sporting event for wounded, injured or sick serving military personnel and veterans. The games saw close to 500 competitors from 15 nations compete in 10 sports. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​