Three Shropshire athletes including RAF technician from Albrighton land in Canada to compete in Invictus Games
Three Shropshire athletes including an RAF technician from Albrighton have arrived in Canada and are preparing to begin competing for the UK at the Invictus Games this weekend.
Rik Francis from Albrighton, Jo Lynch of Newport and Mike Evans, now based in Lincolnshire but hailing from Telford, have all flown out to represent Team UK at the Invictus Games 2025, starting this Saturday (February 8).
The international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans, was established by Prince Harry in 2014.
Rik, who was selected for the games by the Royal British Legion in July, will compete in wheelchair basketball, swimming and skiing at the games. This year's event in Vancouver, Canada is the first to include winter sports.
Meanwhile Jo, who is originally from Derry in Northern Ireland, will compete in indoor rowing and alpine skiing while Mike will compete in a whopping five events: skeleton, the biathlon, indoor rowing, swimming, and wheelchair basketball.
Rik joined the RAF in 2011, aged 25, and trained to become an aircraft technician. This saw him take on multiple exercises and tours around the world, including a tour of Cyprus fighting against ISIS in 2018.
He was a keen mountain biker, and through the RAF he had been competing in inter-station downhill mountain biking competitions.
But in 2014 Rik sustained an injury to his left shoulder when competing, and through rehabilitating the left shoulder he injured his right.
Over a number of years it progressively deteriorated, and following several operations the problem was discovered and a replacement shoulder joint fitted.
Rik now suffers with advanced osteoarthritis in that joint, and will need several more joint replacements throughout his lifetime.
Speaking after the news of his selection for the games, he said he sees Invictus as a key part of his recovery journey.
He said: "What’s the point of going through all the pain and rehab if you’re not going to use the new joint?
"I'm determined to live the life that I choose to live, rather than be confined to the life that has chosen me."
Rik also described his selection for the games as "unreal" and hopefully he can arrive back in Shropshire with some medals around his neck.
The Royal British Legion (RBL) and Ministry of Defence (MOD) have taken 62 competitors to Canada to represent the nation.
The team have been preparing at the RBL’s Battle Back Centre in Lilleshall before they flew out to Canada from Birmingham Airport yesterday (February 6).
The Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 event is taking place from February 8 to 16.
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