Sailors and Royal Marines head for the first winter sports Invictus Games

Team UK has a 62-strong squad for the sports event for service personnel who have experienced life-changing injuries and illnesses, including serving navy personnel Lieutenant Olivia Blandford-Guyon, Lieutenant Commander Rich Galpin, Lieutenant Commander Steve Irwin, Marine Keanen Murphy, Able Rating James Saltmarsh, Able Rating Nisar Utmanzai, and Major John Whiteman.

That magnificent seven make up the Royal Navy’s serving contingent heading to the Vancouver Whistler Games, where more than 500 competitors from 20 nations will compete in adaptive sports, including new winter sports: alpine skiing and snowboarding, Nordic skiing and biathlon, and wheelchair curling.

They will be added to the core Invictus Games sports of indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair basketball.

Lt Cdr Galpin – who travels to Invictus after battling a knee injury that saw him bed-bound for six weeks and unable to run again – will take part in the skeleton and biathlon, as well as indoor rowing, basketball, and swimming.

The 48-year-old from Fareham injured his knee during a unit exercise at the Royal Navy Sailing Centre, which resulted in microfracture surgery, a second partial meniscectomy, and patella shockwave therapy. 

Before the accident, Richard was a keen sportsman, having competed in the British and World Championships for Indoor Rowing. He had also competed at unit or service level in boxing, running, cycling, and table tennis.

“I can’t put into words how it feels to be selected – the feeling is indescribable,” he said. “For such a long time, I hadn’t been myself.

“But after I found out I had made the team, I remember calling up my wife, who started crying and said, ‘Oh my god, I’ve got my husband back.’ She could tell by the tone of my voice how much it meant to me.”

Lt Cdr Irwin’s fight with cancer meant a muscle in his leg was removed, leaving him unable to use or feel part of his leg and, ultimately, no longer able to continue his work as a pilot.
“When I applied, I didn’t realise how much I wanted it until I got it,” said Steve. “It was such a privilege to be picked, and it’s such an amazing opportunity.

“Not just for me, but to be able to take my family out there too – I just feel so humbled and really happy. This is a big chance for me, to aim for something, to get as fit as possible. Also, to show my kids what I can do, especially now.”

Mne Murphy was shot in the stomach while off-duty in his native South Africa in June 2023. He spent nearly a month on life support and has had 11 surgeries, with more still needed.

His recovery has been long and challenging, both physically and mentally. Despite facing potential medical discharge and dealing with PTSD, Keanen remains determined to move forward.
The Royal Marines have played a significant role in his recovery, providing support through the Royal Navy Recovery Centre Hasler. He credits them with saving his life, saying, “They’ve helped me more than I can say.”

After following the Invictus Games in previous years and seeing the benefits, Keanen was inspired to apply and will take part in swimming, alpine skiing, and skeleton. He hopes the Games will restore his self-confidence and plans to “give it his everything.”

Engineering Technician AB Utmanzai suffered a rare brain bleed, which left him in a coma for several days over Christmas 2022. Despite issues with balance, coordination, and stuttering speech, Nisar fought his way back and has since returned to work with the Navy.

Nisar’s military recovery officer advised him to apply for Team UK, and he’ll compete in alpine skiing, indoor rowing, swimming, and skeleton.

He said: “My hand-eye coordination has been massively degraded since the injury, and that is one of the main things I want to improve. The Games will help to prove to both myself and the Navy that I am an asset, despite the setbacks I’ve endured.”