Haverfordwest man Ian Fisher will be part of the Invictus Games after being named in a 65 strong UK team.

The Games, where injured and sick (WIS) military personnel and veterans compete against each other, will take place in The Hague, Natherlands, in May 2020.

And it has been quite the journey for Fisher, who is one of eight Welsh competitors named. Back in 2017 the 43-year-old Welsh Army veteran was told by his physio that unless he lost weight, he would be dead by the time he was 50. Desperate to see his children grow up, Ian took up more exercise and has set himself the target weight of 95kg by the time of The Hague 2020.

He said: “I have gone from the person saying that I cannot do something to one that says ‘I will give it a go’.

"I want to stay active so that I can see my kids grow up. I would like them to see that even though life throws you some obstacles sometimes you can get over them and achieve your goals if you put your mind to it.”

Training for the Games, the former Staff Sergeant who served with the Royal Signals, has found a renewed confidence to socialise with his like-minded teammates.

He continued: “Being with people that understand pain means that I don’t have to put on the brave face and smile that is permanently on my face when at work and home. You can talk frankly about things that are going on without judgement.”

Since starting the Invictus journey, Ian has completed four cycling events and has signed up for another two in 2020.

He hopes to take part in athletics, cycling, powerlifting and swimming events at The Hague. The team will also compete in athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, and sitting volleyball.

Fisher and fellow athletes – 89% of whom have never taken part in an Invictus Games before - will now undergo training camps delivered by Help for Heroes to ensure they are best prepared for the international sporting competition next year.

They will continue to train from now until May in various locations across the country as part of Help for Heroes’ extensive Sports Recovery programme and role to train and develop the team.  

Invictus UK is delivered by a partnership comprising The Ministry of Defence, Help for Heroes, and The Royal British Legion.