United States
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Team USA
United States at the Invictus Games
The United States Armed Forces has more than two million members. Through multiple initiatives, Team USA have shown commitment to the promotion of adaptive sports opportunities through the founding of the Warrior Games in 2010, participation in the Invictus Games since London 2014, and continuously encouraging wounded, injured and ill service members and veterans to lead more fulfilling lives.
I was a huge sports guy before this and this really opened my eyes to the fact that I can be part of the sports world, just in a different aspect. I am absolutely honored to be part of this team.
Shawn Runnels The Hague 2020 Competitor
Team USA
- Competed at 5 Games
- 422 Total Competitors
- Host of Orlando 2016
I was no longer focused on my negative thoughts and my bad situation. That is why support from family and friends is so important. They allow others to share the burden of their difficulties – spoken or unspoken. Events like the Invictus Games that focus on supporting these relationships, are an ideal means of bringing the notions of recovery from a dream to a reality.
PLAY VIDEO | 10:18
Meet the Nations - United States
American Competitors
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Ellie Marks
Elizabeth (Ellie) Marks joined the United States Armed Forces when she was 17 in 2009 to serve in Iraq, just as her father signed up at 17 in 1969 to serve in the Vietnam War.
It was during her service as a combat medic in Iraq in 2010 that she sustained a hip injury which would limit her mobility.
Whilst recovering at the Brooke Army Medical Centre in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, she took up swimming and began to compete at a professional level.
Ellie was selected to compete at the inaugural Invictus Games of London 2014 but tragedy struck when she arrived in the UK as the lose of her voice would evolve into her lungs not working.
"My body couldn’t oxygenate. Papworth Hospital put me on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) life support, which circulates everything through [an] external lung.”
Thankfully, Ellie would recover and would finally make it to the Invictus Games Orlando 2016, where she would ask Prince Harry to send her gold medal to Papworth Hospital as thanks for saving her life.
Ellie would continue to swim at a professional level and would win 5 medals at the Paralympic Games.
It feels great to come full circle out of rehabilitation and perform for the people who supported me throughout that journey."
Invictus Games Orlando 2016
Swimming
When she joined the United States Armed Forces
Paralympic medallist at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020
Donated her Orlando 2016 medal to Papworth Hospital where she recovered
Anthony McDaniel
Anthony McDaniel was injured while on a patrol near Kajaki in Afghanistan’s south, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonation almost completely severed his left hand at the wrist and lead to bilateral leg amputations.
But his earliest thoughts after waking four days later in hospital in Germany was what kind of example he could set for his infant son in the years ahead.
"My mindset became that I’d been through a traumatic experience, but I wasn’t going to let my son see me giving up, I wanted him to look at me and think ‘My dad went through this, but he went hard at life right after".
And he did just so, Anthony competed at the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 and Toronto 2017 and has given back to the adaptive military sporting community by becoming a coach for the USA wheelchair rugby team.
Without our families, we’re only half of the whole. This is an event that gives them the recognition that often goes unnoticed. It’s not just about us, it’s about them as well.”
Invictus Games Orlando 2016 & Toronto 2017
Athletics and Wheelchair Rugby
Wants to set a strong example of resilience for his son
After competing, he became the coach for the USA Wheelchair Rugby team
When he started his recovery journey
Pushing the boundaries
Follow on Social Media
@InvictusTeamUS
It's been a rough three years but this is what it's all about.
Michael Murphy The Hague 2020 Competitor
