Caerphilly Rower Going For Gold At The Invictus Games

A Caerphilly veteran, who served in the military for more than 25 years, has been selected to represent the UK team competing in the Invictus Games in Orlando next month. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

John Prosser, who trains at Caerphilly Leisure Centre, 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 decided to see if it was possible for him to start rowing again. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Entering into his first championships, the Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships, John triumphed and took home the gold medal, and this was followed shortly afterwards by winning a silver medal at the British Indoor Rowing Championships. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking about being selected for the Invictus Games, which will take place next month in Orlando, Florida, John said, “I am thrilled to be chosen to take part in the 2016 event. Taking part in the games will give me the competitive opportunity to see if I can take my training to the next level and develop further, and being able to represent Wales as a para-athlete on an international level is phenomenal. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I want to thank Welsh Rowing for supporting me in my efforts. The one thing I have learned over my journey with Welsh Rowing and Sports Recovery at Help for Heroes is the physical and mental healing power of sport”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services added, “Huge congratulations to John for being selected to represent the UK team at the Invictus Games next month. On behalf of Caerphilly County Borough Council, I wish him every success in his endeavours”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Invictus Games, whose patron is Prince Harry, will be held in Orlando, Florida between 8th and 12th May. The games are the international adaptive sporting event for wounded, injured or sick serving military personnel and veterans. The games will see 500 competitors from 15 nations compete in 10 sports. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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