B次元官网网址淎 Taliban rocket team hit our vehicle.B次元官网网址�

Adam Cyr experienced the attack in 2008 during a tour in Afghanistan. The explosion threw him out of the vehicle and fellow members of his platoon dragged him to safety during a firefight.

B次元官网网址淚 was knocked unconscious for half a second after the initial blast and I remember coming to in the air B次元官网网址� and I was on fire,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭hree of my guys were killed, five of us were injured. I lost my leg below the knee.B次元官网网址�

While he laments the loss of life and limb, Cyr who now sports a prosthetic leg, refuses to dwell on the negative, finding solace in sport.

B次元官网网址淚 still have issues with my leg B次元官网网址� and still have my bad days. But one thing I notice is if I canB次元官网网址檛 do physical activity, thatB次元官网网址檚 when the depression starts kicking in B次元官网网址� and your quality of life diminishes,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭he one thing through my recovery that has honestly, verifiably been helping me is physical fitness.B次元官网网址�

By chance, a friend introduced him to the Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event created by BritainB次元官网网址檚 Prince Harry for wounded military service men and women. Cyr randomly put his name in the hat, got selected for Team Canada and by chance discovered the squad has a gym in Colwood, where he introduced himself to Team Canada captain Bruno Guevremont.

B次元官网网址�(The Invictus Games) give purpose and a way to connect with others (who suffer from) illness and injuries,B次元官网网址� Guevremont said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of like a Paralympic Games for ill and injured soldiers.B次元官网网址�

Guevremont, who served 15 years as a navy diver, with two tours in Afghanistan on the counter-improvised explosive device team dismantling bombs, has also been affected by post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Like Cyr, he refuses to allow it to hinder him and uses sport and fitness to heal.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e found a way to get back on track and how to be a productive member of society and deal with mental health,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 have to be paralyzed or weighted down by this mental illness. You can heal and learn to cope better with physical fitness.B次元官网网址�

A 30-member Canadian team will compete in the 2016 Invictus Games, hosted May 8 to 12 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

Guevremont will compete in indoor rowing and seated volleyball, while Cyr will do indoor rowing and archery. The two are among five athletes from Vancouver Island, all of whom train at GuevremontB次元官网网址檚 Crossfit Stasis gym in Colwood.

Cyr says his motivation doesnB次元官网网址檛 come strictly from a desire to win or accomplish any set of achievements. ItB次元官网网址檚 about the process.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just finding out things about myself. IB次元官网网址檓 proud of knowing I can do these things; self-doubt and all these things are cancer to where you want to be. To recognize self-doubt creeping in and push it out of the way, and being able to work through it, is what I am most proud of,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淭here are certain things that you have to modify the way you do them, but there is nothing you canB次元官网网址檛 do B次元官网网址� the only disability is a bad attitude.B次元官网网址�

alim@goldstreamgazette.com