Jeff Virgo (centre) with his parents, Grant and Linda, at the Invictus Games 2016 in Florida.
Hub Staff
Fourteen nations came together last month in Florida to compete in the second Invictus Games. The Games, for wounded, ill and injured soldiers, featured 485 service men and women showing their grit on the world’s stage.
Port Elgin’s Jeff Virgo made his second appearance at the Invictus Games (competing in the inaugural games in London in 2014) where he competed in Sit Volleyball and Swimming races, beating his personal best time in the 50m Freestyle with a time of 00:39:80, and even made a cameo in a promotional video featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Jeff Virgo participated in Sit-Volleyball and Swimming races during the Invictus Games at Disney World, in Florida, last month.
The Games were held at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World, where a special stand-alone Olympic sized pool was built specifically for the Games on a pre-existing soccer field. “My main goal was to hit some PB’s (personal bests), which I did; and our mix relay team 4x50m did very well and we finished in fifth place,” said Virgo in a recent interview.
“Sit Volleyball went better than expected,” Virgo said, admitting that no one on the team had actually ever played a single game before. “We made it to the playoffs quarter finals. The main goal for our team was just to have fun and to enjoy the the overall experience and with big crowds watching, cheering us on, it was pretty awesome.”
Virgo said overall his experience in his second Invictus Games was “outstanding”.
“Just seeing old friends from all the different countries, being one together as a team and the great show of support from Canada... and I can’t forget all the good people of Saugeen Shores for all their well wishes and messages of support,” said Virgo.
The goal of the Invictus Games is to inspire the recovery, support and rehabilitation for wounded service men and women, which was His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Harry’s intent when he helped establish the Games two years ago.
“It raises awareness, not just for military members and veterans, but anyone with a physical or mental issue that there is help out there and that being active in sport or just getting out plays a big impact on our recovery,” said Virgo, who suffered a spinal cord injury while serving as a Private in the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry as a Long Range Patrol at an Armed Forces base in Alberta in 2004.
Since the inaugural Games in London, awareness and popularity has grown, which was the case when Virgo, along with the rest of Team Canada, helped Prime Minister Trudeau work on his push-ups in a video response to “challenge” the competition from the United Kingdom and United States following the release of their promotional “mic drop” videos, that feature the Queen of England, President Obama and the First Lady. Virgo said these online videos helped bring global awareness to the Games and were even seen by friends in Australia.
“It is really important to have a centre figure for the brand and message and HRH does just that. As well as having Prime Minister Trudeau and other dignitaries shine the spotlight on the games, the people and the message of what the Invictus Games does is also good,” Virgo said.
In a May press conference HRH Prince Harry announced to the world that the Invictus Games 2017 will be held in Toronto, where, in true Canadian fashion, sledge hockey will be introduced to the Games. “If... I’m selected to once again represent my country on home soil... that would be amazing,” said Virgo, who would want to complete in Swimming, Sit Volleyball once more and maybe even give Wheelchair Basketball or Golf a try.
Related: Jeff Virgo to compete in second Invictus Games
Jeff Virgo (front row, right) looked on as His Royal Highness Prince Harry, the face of the Invictus Games, announced that the 2017 Games will be held in Toronto.
Jeff Virgo, competing in the Invictus Games in Florida last month.