Invictus Games: Day Seven Wrap Up
Nu Filo threw a discus for the first time ever today — and nearly came away with an Invictus Games Sydney 2018 medal.
He was one of seven New Zealand Defence Force team members to compete in track and field events today, and most achieved personal bests.
Mr Filo said he had never thrown a discus before today, let alone in a competition, and was pleased with his fourth placing.
“I’ve ticked it every year but had to drop it because it’s been before powerlifting and rowing, and they’ve been my focus,” he said.
In the women’s shot put, teammates and friends Sergeant Kelly Whittle, Jules Bramley and Vanessa Bawden-Pere threw within 14cm of each other; the trio line up together again in the discus tomorrow.
Another nine team members lined up at the archery, including tetraplegic team members Grant Philip and George Nepata.
Major Kiely Pepper, Nicki Fairbairn and Petty Officer Ihaka Matairangi all qualified for the quarter-finals, and a rapt PO Matairangi later said it was the happiest he had been in a long time when he finished sixth
“I came up against one of the best in Italian Fabio Tomasulo, so I’m more than happy to lose to him,” he said.
Tonight three of our team, Matt Vangioni, Bart Couprie and PJ Harimate, took the court with wheelchair rugby players from other nations to take on a celebrity team which featured a number of top rugby players. The combined Invictus Games team had a good win.
Tomorrow six team members compete in track and field, while our wheelchair basketball team takes the court. First up is Canada, followed by the United States.
View the Facebook gallery of all photos.
Throughout the Games the team’s journey can be followed on:
Facebook: @NZInvictusTeam
Instagram: @NZInvictusTeam
Twitter: @nzdefenceforce
