The games, who have the backing of Prince Harry, are for injured servicemen and women.
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“It was fantastic”, Rudder said. “It shows that just because I’m an amputee doesn’t mean I can’t go out and put my heart and soul on the track or any event that I do”. She made it out of the attacks unharmed, but two days later caught her left ankle in a concrete barrier while removing the remains of victims from the site. After five surgeries, doctors amputated, or removed, her leg.
“The pain was debilitating”, Rudder said.
“I couldn’t be here without their support, the support of our team and our sponsors back home who helped us take part in this incredible event”.
After struggling to deal with the loss of a limb, Rudder found a way to turn despair into triumph through sports.
The Invictus Games run until 12 May at the ESPN Wide World of Sport Complex, in Orlando, Florida.
Glenn, who is also a champion paraplegic wheelchair tennis player, rowed 253 metres in the event before winning the gold for the New Zealand Defence Force team.
Excelling at the Invictus Games, which includes almost 400 wounded and sick servicemen and women from 14 countries around the world, allows Rudder to prove that her injury won’t limit what she can accomplish.
“The creation of the Opening Ceremony is a development”, said Sara Donaldson, Executive Producer of Invictus Games 2016 Orlando Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
“There’s all sorts of places over the world where we were very lucky to have those moments with our mother; and very, very happy memories”, Harry said of himself and his brother, Prince William.
Rudder finished first in the lightweight powerlifting competition.
“I am here to honor all of you, our extraordinary service members, veterans and of course our military families”, said Michelle Obama.
“It’s not pride for the games, it’s pride for them, military or nonmilitary, these games have somehow managed to create this wonderful inspiration, to encourage anybody from any walks of life to get up and smash it and make the most of your second chance I guess”.
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I had six months of recovery on both shoulders at one time within one year, so to be able to lift 159 pounds even though it didn’t count, to be able to lift that, when at one time I couldn’t even lift my arms, It’s awesome.
