At least four San Diego wounded warriors were in Orlando on Sunday for the Invictus Games, where Michelle Obama and Britain’s Prince Harry took part in opening ceremonies.

Marine Corps Sgt. Rafael Cervantes (left) of San Diego tries to stop the Army team's Delvin Maston during the wheelchair basketball gold medal game at the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., Oct. 3, 2014. Photo via defense.gov
Marine Corps Sgt. Rafael Cervantes (left) of San Diego tries to stop the Army team’s Delvin Maston during the wheelchair basketball gold medal game at the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., Oct. 3, 2014. Photo via defense.gov

More than 500 wounded, ill and injured athletes from 14 nations gathered for the Paralympic-style, multisport event created by Prince Harry in 2014 after he saw the Warrior Games in the United States.

Organizers said 113 athletes across the services are representing the United States, including these county residents:

  • Rafael Cervantes of San Diego — a Marine staff sergeant competing in cycling, indoor rowing and sitting volleyball.
  • Chris Parks of Lakeside, an Army 1st Lieutenant in swimming and track and field.
  • Tino Uli of Oceanside, a retired Air Force staff sergeant in track and field, indoor rowing and powerlifting competitions.

Results for Sunday showed
Parks taking seventh in the IF1 shot put, with a toss of 8.22 meters (26 feet, 11 1/2 inches), and Uli 14th in IF5 shot put, with a mark of 9.31 meters (30-6 1/2).

Ken Fisher, chairman of Invictus Games Orlando 2016, welcomed athletes and spectators.

“I am thrilled you are all here,” Fisher said. “These Games will celebrate the military family as never before. We will celebrate their role in recovery, and witness the role sports has played in that long and difficult rehabilitation process.”

Athletes will compete in 10 sports — archery, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

“Over the next four days, you will hear stories of courage and fortitude told by men and women who refused to use the term ‘I can’t,” Fisher said. “You 500 seated in front of me are truly unconquerable, as are the 1,000 family and friends seated next to you.”

After the Marine Corps Silent Drill Team entertained the crowd, Prince Harry took the stage.

“I cannot tell you how proud and excited I am to open the second Invictus Games here in America,” Harry said. “You are role models that any parent would be proud to have their children follow. So let’s put on a hell of a show in memory of all of our fallen comrades who didn’t make it back. We are Invictus!”

The games run throughout the week, and climax with closing ceremonies May 12.

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