See Inspiring Portraits of Vets From the Invictus Games

2 minute read
Haywood Range, USA, competed in field
Haywood Range, USA, competed in fieldErik Tanner
By Sean Gregory

They came from 14 countries, from New Zealand to Afghanistan to Canada, 500 wounded men and women who sacrificed for their countries, then delighted the world through sports. The second edition of the Invictus Games, the multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans, ran from May 8 through May 12, in Orlando. These athletes swam, ran, and rowed; they played wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugby. The brainchild of Prince Harry, himself a military vet who served in Afghanistan, the Invictus Games served more than just mere curiosity. With blanket coverage by ESPN, the vice president in attendance, and compelling competition between the lines, the Games became a cultural phenomenon.

“Fair enough USA, I give it to you,” said Prince Harry after the American wheelchair basketball thumped the U.K., 48-16, “it’s only right in your home games you end up taking most of the golds, but let me remind you, this has never been about the medals as you know. This is about bringing amazing people together, sharing experiences and literally watching lives change in front of you in this arena, outside in the pool, wherever it is. And you’ve witnessed it and we’re the lucky ones to have witnessed it together.”

New York-based photographer Erik Tanner took portraits of the athletes after each event, subtly showing the intensity of the competition. Last year, Tanner photographed at the Defense Department’s Wounded Warrior Games, during which 270 veterans from every branch of American military service competed in events like swimming, archery and field.

A highlight of the Games: Sgt. Elizabeth Marks, a medic from Arizona, giving one of her four swimming gold medals back to the Prince. She asked that the medal be shipped to the British hospital that saved her life in 2014. On the eve of the first Invictus Games, in London that year, Marks fell ill with a serious lung condition, and had to be put into an induced coma. “They absolutely saved my life,” Marks said. The next Invictus Games will be held next September, in Toronto. So much more greatness awaits.

Erik Tanner is a photographer based in New York City.

Sean Gregory, a senior writer for TIME, covers sports for the magazine and TIME.com.

 

Allan Armstrong, USA, competed in cycling, swimming and track
Allan Armstrong, USA, competed in cycling, swimming and trackErik Tanner
Pellegrina Caputo, Italy, competed in shot put
Pellegrina Caputo, Italy, competed in shot put Erik Tanner
Enrique Schulze, Germany, competed in shot put and discus, archery and rowing
Enrique Schulze, Germany, competed in shot put and discus, archery and rowingErik Tanner
Jorge Salazar, USA, competed in wheelchair rugby, field and wheelchair basketball
Jorge Salazar, USA, competed in wheelchair rugby, field and wheelchair basketballErik Tanner
Ergo Mets, Estonia, competed in the Jaguar Land Rover driving challenge, sitting volleyball, rowing (1 and 4 minutes) and the 100m run
Ergo Mets, Estonia, competed in the Jaguar Land Rover driving challenge, sitting volleyball, rowing (1 and 4 minutes) and the 100m runErik Tanner
Abdul Ali Khil, Afghanistan, competed in powerlifting and rowing
Abdul Ali Khil, Afghanistan, competed in powerlifting and rowing Erik Tanner
Michael Willadsen, Denmark, competed in sitting volleyball and swimming
Michael Willadsen, Denmark, competed in sitting volleyball and swimmingErik Tanner
Anthony Rios, USA, competed in cycling, sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugby
Anthony Rios, USA, competed in cycling, sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugbyErik Tanner
Sean Walsh, USA, competed in cycling and swimming
Sean Walsh, USA, competed in cycling and swimming Erik Tanner
Rebujent Henri, France, competed in cycling, rowing and volleyball
Rebujent Henri, France, competed in cycling, rowing and volleyballErik Tanner
Cor Van Leeuwen (front) and Daniel Knegt (back), Netherlands, competed in swimming, cycling and track
Cor Van Leeuwen (front) and Daniel Knegt (back), Netherlands, competed in swimming, cycling and trackErik Tanner
Ibrar Ali, United Kingdom, competed in track (400m, 1,500m) and swimming (50m freestyle)
Ibrar Ali, United Kingdom, competed in track (400m, 1,500m) and swimming (50m freestyle)Erik Tanner
Haywood Range, USA, competed in field
Haywood Range, USA, competed in fieldErik Tanner
Anthony Rios, USA, competed in cycling, sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugby
Anthony Rios, USA, competed in cycling, sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugbyErik Tanner
Ivan Sears, USA, competed in track and indoor rowing
Ivan Sears, USA, competed in track and indoor rowingErik Tanner
Sadie Strong, USA, competed in archery
Sadie Strong, USA, competed in archeryErik Tanner
Rafael Cervantes, USA, competed in cycling, indoor rowing and sitting volleyball
Rafael Cervantes, USA, competed in cycling, indoor rowing and sitting volleyballErik Tanner
Jorge Salazar, USA, competed in wheelchair rugby, field and wheelchair basketball
Jorge Salazar, USA, competed in wheelchair rugby, field and wheelchair basketballErik Tanner
Jason Reyes, USA, Wheelchair basketballErik Tanner
Hamzeh Qudah (left) and Ulfat Al-Zwiri (right), Jordan, competed in track
Hamzeh Qudah (left) and Ulfat Al-Zwiri (right), Jordan, competed in track Erik Tanner
Peter Cook, USA, competed in cycling and swimming
Peter Cook, USA, competed in cycling and swimmingErik Tanner
Alex Nguyen, USA, competed in field and wheelchair rugby
Alex Nguyen, USA, competed in field and wheelchair rugbyErik Tanner
Gabby Graves-Wake, USA, competed in track & field
Gabby Graves-Wake, USA, competed in track & fieldErik Tanner
Ronnie Jimenez, USA, competed in cycling
Ronnie Jimenez, USA, competed in cyclingErik Tanner
Nader Halimi, Afghanistan, competed in volleyball and rowing
Nader Halimi, Afghanistan, competed in volleyball and rowingErik Tanner
Otar Doijashvili, Georgia, competed in sitting volleyball and rowing
Otar Doijashvili, Georgia, competed in sitting volleyball and rowingErik Tanner

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Write to Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com