Wounded and injured servicemen and women last week gathered at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) Lympstone in Devon.
The Royal Marines Rehabilitation Triathlon event this year hosted just over 200 Tri Service competitors including discharged veterans as well as serving ranks that are recovering from various injuries and illnesses.
Additionally this year the competition had international representation from both the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and Royal Netherlands Marine Corps (RNLMC).
The event supported by the Royal Marines Charity, Help for Heroes, Castle Triathlon Series and Sodexo was an impact free competition comprising of (depending upon ability) either 200m or 400m Swim, 12km or 24km cycle then concluding with a 2km or 5km indoor row.
The competition could be completed as a whole by individuals or as a 3 person relay team.
The organiser of the event Lt ‘Mo’ Morris RM whom is himself a Physical Training Instructor specialising in rehabilitation said:
“From starting as an in-house rehabilitation event 4 years ago with no more than about a dozen men attending I cannot believe that it has now grown into such a big event in the rehabilitation sporting calendar.”
One of the competitors 35 year old former Marine Gavin Bolger whom was injured in Helmand Province Afghanistan during Operation HERRICK 14 sustaining both physical injuries and PTSD commented:
“I was the last person I thought would suffer mental issues, but you have to have a strategy to get through it – keeping your mind active and keeping physically fit. That’s why events like this are great for recovery.”
“As a Marine, you may get injured but you crack on, you don’t get a green beret by quitting.”
Concurrently to the rehabilitation triathlon an able bodied triathlon also took place which instead of the indoor row the competitors completed a run. CSgt Bell RM from 847 NAS won this event in convincing fashion with his closest competitor over 5 minutes behind.
The successful and testing event ended with an evening reception and prize giving in the CTCRM Officers Mess.
