Students’ gold rush
Two University of Brighton students won gold at the Invictus Games – and one was reunited with Prince Harry, creator of the games, who he helped train.
Mike Westwell, seriously injured in the war in Afghanistan, is on the university’s Troops to Teachers PE course and is also a coach for Football 4 Peace (F4P), the university’s groundbreaking and pioneering project that uses sport to build cultural bridges and promote peaceful co-existence in conflict-torn communities around the world.
Mike, second from the right, is reunited with Prince Harry. Gold medallist Andrew Perrin, is pictured right with cycling coach Andrew Pink left.
The 36-year-old former RAF air crew sergeant took gold in the time trial cycling and silver in the road race. He also took part in rowing and a Jaguar Land Rover driver challenge events during the five-day Paralympics-style event, for injured, sick or wounded armed forces personnel, in Orlando, Florida.
He said: “The pinnacle at these games is a gold medal but it’s more about using sport as a tool for rehabilitation of both physical and psychological injuries and overcoming these in the face of adversity.”
Mike was injured during turbulence in his aircraft cabin, which led to the prolapse of two discs in his neck, causing temporary paralysis in his arm and muscle wastage.
The games, he said, were magical: “It’s very important to bottle the memories, emotions and feelings, for those days when we’re not feeling at your best and don’t see a reason to get out of bed.
“It was an awesome reunion with Prince Harry, and it was an honour to shake the hand of the US First Lady Michelle Obama, listen to actor Morgan Freeman and attend an invisible wounds symposium with President George W Bush.”
He thanked his wife Samantha, parents, brothers and late grandparents and friends for their “support, kindness and everlasting love.”
Dr Gary Stidder, the university’s PE tutor on the Troops to Teachers programme and Deputy Director of Football 4 Peace International, said: “Mike is a very dedicated individual and will be an amazing role model to young people in secondary schools once he begins his new career as a teacher of physical education. In addition, his involvement and commitment to the Football 4 Peace international programme has been exceptional. He is a highly valued member of the F4P alumni.”
Mike is working at Nottingham Academy and will start as a PE and maths teacher at Garibaldi college in Mansfield in September.
Mike talked about his injury and how cycling has helped with his rehabilitation in a BBC Youtube video.
A second University of Brighton Troops to Teachers student Andrew Perrin, on the Secondary Design and Technology course, won gold in the cycling road race and silver in the time trial.
Andrew Perrin with Mrs Obama
Andrew was a sergeant in the Army and served for 12 years until a severed anterior cruciate ligament and being diagnosed with crones disease led to a medical discharge. He said: “The games for me has been amazing, really great to perform in and, hopefully, it will inspire others onto an international stage.
“I hope that what I have done will help me to inspire the pupils in my school and give me the motivation to push through to the end of the course and qualify as an outstanding troops to teacher.”
Andrew is teaching design technology and engineering at East Barnet School in North London and graduates with Mike this summer.
Lorraine Harrison, Troops to Teachers Manager, said: “This is an outstanding achievement for both students. Many congratulations from everyone involved in the Troops to Teachers programme.”
Kerry Burnett • 16/05/2016