Former members bask in glow of Invictus medals

Team Canada captain LS (Ret’d) Bruno Guevremont (left) is all smiles at the Invictus Games Opening Ceremonies.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Days before heading to the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida, retired Master Corporal (Retired) Adam Cyr said he wasn’t shooting for the podium.

Being there with fellow wounded warriors, many working their way back to health and life, was fulfilling enough.

But shoot for the podium he did, in the archery competition, earning a silver medal.

The 37-year-old amputee, and teammates Sgt (Ret’d) Nicolas Meunier of Montreal and Cpl (Ret’d) Sarah Dentry-Travis of Winnipeg shot their way to a second place finish in the Team Novice Recurve.

“It was a great moment and we are so proud of Adam winning and representing the west coast athletes at the Game so well,” said Team Canada’s captain, LS (Ret’d) Bruno Guévremont.

MCpl (Ret’d) Cyr served with 2PPCLI Shilo, Manitoba, and lost his right leg and suffered shoulder and hearing injuries during a Taliban rocket attack in 2008.

The silver medal was added to Canada’s 28-member team’s final tally of 22 medals – 10 gold medals, eight silver, and four bronze.

That total outshined the two silver medals Canada won at the inaugural 2014 Invictus Games in London where 12 Canadian military athletes participated.

At the closing ceremony LS (Ret’d) Guévremont was centre stage when the Invictus Games flag was lowered, and then handed to him and Michael Burns, CEO of the 2017 Invictus Games, which will be held in Toronto.

“It was only a few years back that I was suffering from PTSD and in a pretty dark place,” said LS (Ret’d) Guévremont.

“To be on the stage accepting the Invictus Games flag for Canada for the next Games was a fantastic feeling.

This year’s Games changed the lives of so many of 28 current and former injured soldiers on our team.”