Invictus Games: Day Eight Wrap Up
Invictus Games team member George Nepata topped off a “life-changing” Games last night by taking the Exceptional Performance of the Games award.
The Invictus Games Sydney Games wrapped up with a closing ceremony featuring performances by a star-studded line-up and attended by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Mr Nepata, who was left a tetraplegic after he was injured in a training accident in Singapore in 1989, said he was humbled to receive the Exceptional Performance award.
“It was something I never expected and just came out of the blue. It was an awesome atmosphere going through the crowd, through the other competitors, just shaking their hands, high-fiving and clapping. It was just an overwhelming and humbling experience,” he said.
Mr Nepata’s family — wife Kim, daughter Air Force Corporal Whakapono, 14-year-old son Ngaheke, mother Christine Kidwell and brother Damien Nepata — were there to see him honoured.
“For them to be there has just been overwhelming. I’m so proud,” he said.
“This has been a life-changing moment and experience that I’ve shared with my teammates. I’m just so proud of them all. They’re all helping me.”
The Closing Ceremony concluded eight days of adaptive sport competition between 500 wounded, injured or ill current and former service personnel from 18 nations.
Earlier in the day the wheelchair basketball team met the United Kingdom in the semi-finals, putting up a good fight but going down to finish fourth overall.
The New Zealand team finished the Games with one gold and one bronze — to Craig Wilson in the 1500m and Nu Filo in the shot put respectively — as well as personal bests for most of the team.
The team flies home today, joined by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
