06-02-2025
Cornwall veteran to represent UK in sport she dislikes
An Army veteran from Cornwall has been selected for Team UK at the Invictus Games 2025, despite openly disliking one of her sports. Joanne Whyatt will compete in wheelchair rugby and swimming, although she has admitted to not being "a keen swimmer".The games, founded by Prince Harry in 2014, are for wounded, injured and sick military service personnel, and start on 8 February in Whyatt, who was medically discharged after 21 years of service, said: "I decided to do swimming because I disliked it and I knew I would challenge myself."
She added: "For me, it's not about going out there to win a medal with the swimming. "My medal, for myself, will be that I put my costume on, I've stood out up there, I've got in the pool, I've swam that length and got out the other side." Ms Whyatt now works as a lead instructor with Active Plus, a community interest company that sees veterans use their experiences to inspire others.
The Cornish veteran left the military following a misdiagnosed hip injury. She said: "I was being rehabilitated to build my muscles up around that but what was actually happening was the hip bone was fracturing open the more that I worked on it."I was medically discharged after 21 years, so being told that, having that decision made for me and not by myself, that affected my mental health."I realised I had to think of something else to do and start a new life."Discussing the upcoming games, she admitted that it had "not quite hit" yet. She said: "I think, for a few of us, we've said the opening ceremony when we walk out on to the stage and we parade as Team UK, I think that's when it's going to hit."When we look up and realise everyone is there for us."
