A para-athlete from Caerphilly has been unveiled as part of the UK team competing in the Invictus Games in Orlando later this year.
John Prosser will be part of the 110-strong team of wounded, injured and sick (WIS) serving military personnel and veterans taking part in the Games.
John served in the military for 25 years, and suffered several parachuting injuries during that spell.
After he was spotted at the Disability Sport Wales Wheelchair Spectacular in September 2015, John was entered into his first competitive championship – the Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships – where he triumphed and took home the gold medal.
Completing a spectacular 2015, John went on to win silver medal at the British Indoor Rowing Championships at the Olympic Park in London.
Speaking after being selected for the Invictus Games, John said: “I am thrilled to be chosen to take part in the 2016 Invictus Games.
“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.
John will also be taking part in the 50m freestyle swimming event. He hopes the improvement to his confidence and independence to date, will grow further as he progresses.
“I want to thank Welsh Rowing for supporting me in my efforts.
“The one thing I have learnt over my journey with Welsh Rowing and Sports Recovery at Help for Heroes is the physical and mental healing power of sport.”
The team announcement was made on Wednesday April 6 in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, with athletes joined by Prince Harry, Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation.
John’s Welsh Rowing coach Liz Lewis said: “Since John visited our stand at Wheelchair Sports Spectacular last autumn, he has gone from strength to strength, gaining confidence in his power and technical ability.
“Every race that he has competed in, he has gone into it wholeheartedly and with great professionalism.
We are very proud of everything he has achieved and he deserves his place on the Invictus team.
“He has a great work ethic and is an inspiration to all aspiring para-rowers. We are confident he will win a medal and we’ll be here to support him however we can.”
The Invictus Games 2016 are being held in Orlando, Florida at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex between May 8 and 12 2016.
The Games are the international adaptive sporting event for WIS Servicemen and women, both serving and veteran. The inaugural event was held in London in September 2014.
The Invictus Games 2016 will see 500 competitors from 15 nations compete in 10 sports.