Match Update: USA Wins First Gold Medal Since Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge
Power lifter Says Sport Saved Her Life After 9/11 injury
American women’s lightweight power lifter Sarah Rudder this morning achieved what she described as one of the proudest and happiest moments of her life when she won the women’s lightweight powerlifting gold medal; the first gold of Invictus Games Orlando 2016 since the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge May 7th.
She said sport had saved her life.
Rudder lost one of her legs following an injury sustained while in the Marine Corp helping to recover non-survivors from the debris of the 9/11 Pentagon attack. Rudder described the medal win as amazing and was incredibly proud to have represented her country at the Invictus Games.
“It’s amazing. For me it’s the culmination of all the training and hard work and effort to get here, and in doing so to conquer and overcome my fears and weaknesses, and show I can do this,” she said after being presented with her gold medal.
Rudder said sport had been central to her recovery and training for the Invictus Games had given purpose and meaning to her life.
“Sport saved my life,” Rudder said. “It showed me that I can do and be something and that I can be part of a community again.”
The silver medal in the women’s lightweight powerlifting category went to Australia’s Darlene Brown, while Sarah Claricoates won bronze for the UK, who said the inaugural Invictus Games in London in 2014, had motivated her to represent her country in Orlando.
“I saw so many inspiring people doing inspiring things in London that I wanted to be part of the next Games here in Orlando,” said Claricoates who has multiple sclerosis.
Claricoates also said that sport had been central to helping cope with the condition.
“No mater what you are suffering from, sport had something to offer everyone,” she said.
All of the action from Invictus Games Orlando 2016 can be seen on ESPN3 by clicking:
http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/channel/espn3
