YEOVILTON LIFE: Going for gold at the Invictus Games

A SERVING Royal Navy Petty Officer based at RNAS Yeovilton is to represent the UK at the Invictus Games.

PO Sean Gaffney, 44, currently serving at Yeovilton, has a below-the–knee left leg amputation from an injury in service in 1999.

Sean will compete in eight events in Games to be held in Orlando next month amongst 110 military veterans and serving military personnel. The Paralympics-style games were first staged two years ago and Prince Harry is the Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation.

Sean’s eight events consist of two indoor rowing events, bench press, shot put, 400M sprint, discus and two road cycling events.

Sean said: “I am very competitive and don’t allow my lower leg amputation to get in the way of my everyday working life  in the Royal Navy life or my love of sport,” he said.

“I have added cycling to my events this year after purchasing bike only days before the trials for the games were being held. Luckily I qualified and I’m looking forward to this opportunity to show everyone what we can achieve beyond injury.

“My strongest event is the rowing and I will definitely be ‘Going for Gold’ in Orlando!” added Sean.

The Invictus Games 2016 are being held in Orlando, Florida, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from May 8-12, 2016, and everyone at RNAS Yeovilton wish Sean and Team UK good luck.

More details about the Invictus Games can be found here: https://invictusgamesfoundation.org/ .

PHOTOS: Petty Officer Sean Gaffney.

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