I AM Spotlight: Sven Perryman, USA, The Time for Second Chances
What if you only had one minute to prove yourself? For Staff Sergeant Sven Perryman, U.S. States Air Force, seven seconds defined if we would take the silver or the gold during the indoor rowing competition. Close to the finish, SSGT felt the handles of his rowing machine give and the belt completely snap.
In that moment of despair, officials told him he would get a re-row. SSGT Perryman had 30 minutes to rest, not only his body but also his mind – he knew he would persevere, he knew he would fight on.
“Physically it was enough [time], but mentally it wasn’t enough. When I went back on the rower my mind wasn’t at 100%, but I just had to go back out there and do what I could,” he said.
Pushing himself for another chance to medal, Sven returned to the competition floor to tie for the bronze in his category.
On May 11, SSGT Perryman will compete again, this time in the swimming competition. Life has always been about second chances for him. Yesterday, he got his second chance in indoor rowing, and following his injury, he got the chance to compete in sports again.
“I was an athlete before I got injured, but I didn’t think I would compete in sports again,” said Perryman. Still new to adaptive sporting, he’s giving it a try. He trained and conditioned for more than a year for the minute indoor rowing competition, but this is just the start.
“When I got a second chance [for the event], that’s all I needed. If you have a second chance, take advantage of it,” he encouraged.
For many competitors, like SSGT Perryman, the Invictus Games is a time to embrace second chances, and realize that giving it your very best, no matter the circumstances, is always worthwhile. For SSGT Perryman, these words of encouragement won him a medal. Watch as he continues on his Invictus journey during the swimming finals tomorrow at 8AM EST on ESPN3.
