"I just wish people would realize that anything's possible if you try"

Terry Fox

Founded by Prince Harry in 2014, the Invictus Games involve wounded warriors from multiple countries, all sharing the common bonds of service and sacrifice in war and disaster zones.

The Invictus Games 2025

Photography by Stephen J. Thorne

Ziv Eliyahu of Israel takes the tip, in more ways than one, en route to a dominating 62-7 gold medal victory over the United States.

Muhammed Gaddafi of Nigeria took a tortuous and circuitous route down the hill, but he made the finish line in spite of it all.

Thorbjørnn Forsberg of Denmark gets some encouragement from Ida lærkedahl after competing in the IR6(M) one-minute rowing sprint.

Indoor rowing is a stalwart event at Invictus.

Known for 15 years as The Cake Lady, Kath Ryan of Birmingham, England, operates Cakes for Casualties, regularly delivering her homemade cakes to veterans’ hospitals, rehab centres and Britain’s Invictus training camp.

Lee Jarratt of Canada took silver in the Women’s Novice IAS1-Sit Ski at Whistler.

Love was all around.

Canada became the first country to host two Invictus Games, with Vancouver-Whistler 2025 coming almost eight years after Toronto in 2017.

Canada and Team Unconquered postgame.

The joy of Invictus.

A one-legged diver takes the plunge during swimming competition at the UBC aquatics centre.

Eye of the Tiger. Team Canada flag bearer Adria Brochu prepares for battle at indoor rowing.

Hyeongyoon Na of South Korea competed in swimming and the IR3 four-minute endurance rowing race.

Michael Drover and the Canadian wheelchair basketball team were all thrills and spills en route to a win over Germany in their opening game.

Ziv Eliyahu of Israel puts one up en route to a dominating 62-7 gold medal victory over the United States.

Medal ceremonies brought out the best of B.C.

Ophir Gat of Israel competes in the 50m backstroke ISE.

This year’s version involved 23 countries and more than 500 athletes. It was the first with adaptive winter sports—alpine and cross-country skiing, biathlon, snowboarding, wheelchair curling, and skeleton.

Tools of everyday life for the wounded warriors of multiple wars, shed to pursue the conquests of sport.

Petrisor Onea of Romania gets hugs and kisses from wife Laura and son Mihai after finishing the IR6(M) four-minute endurance rowing race.

A powerhouse on offence and defence, Alex Witkovski, leader of Brazil’s seated volleyball team, blocks one against NIgeria as the South Americans take the gold medal match in straight games.

Emilien Pauthier of France medalled in multiple events four years after losing his hands to a grenade in Mali.

The British.

Vancouver-Whistler marked the first time for winter sports at the Invictus Games.

With tributes to Canada and his native Britain on either side of his head, wheelchair rugby’s Mac McClaren takes a pass during action against New Zealand.

Canada’s Assunta Aquino won the Women’s Int-Adv IAS4-Open & MFI alpine skiing event at Whistler, taking the gold in 18.03s, almost 3s faster than her closest competitor.

Kim Hardy of Canada takes possession of the ball in wheelchair rugby action versus Jean-Sebastian Bergeron, a Canadian competing for Team Unconquered 2, one of several Unconquered teams made up of athletes from various countries.

Jeana Provias of Canada prepares to defend the serve versus Australia.

Harry served 10 years in the British army, including a tour in Afghanistan. He is at home with fellow veterans and serving soldiers. And they are at home with him.

Christopher Platts of the bronze-madal winning Ukraine seated volleyball team shares a moment with Prince Harry.

Meghan and Harry at courtside.

Prince Harry spent more time with athletes at these Games than he did in Toronto. Here, he sits with Brazilian, Nigerian and Ukrainian seated volleyballers.

“The Invictus Games is about more than competition. It’s about perseverance in the face of adversity. It’s about the strength, the resilience of the human spirit. And it’s about not letting an injury, whether it be physical or mental, define who you are or what you can accomplish.”

Justin Trudeau

Harry & Meghan

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