James Phelps
Biathlon | Cross Country Ski | Skeleton | WCB
James Phelps joined the Air National Guard in 2001 and was just finishing up Tech School when the attacks in New York City and the Pentagon happened on September 11th. He deployed multiple times, including one deployment as part of a Search and Rescue Squadron that was credited with saving 500 lives. James started seeking treatment for some of the things he saw and went through while deployed and received a diagnosis of PTSD. “I have been hospitalized twice with PTSD,” he said. “I’m proud of this because I got help before it was too late. I’m still here and stronger for my family and friends.” He finds that being a part of AFW2 and being involved with adaptive sports can have an impact on your overall recovery. “There are so many parallels that you can take away from adaptive sports and apply to your personal life. Being a part of AFW2 has meant everything to me.”
What does the Invictus Games mean to you?
Invictus signifies a powerful fusion of growth, gratitude, teamwork and elevating/uniting all branches of our nations military to achieve a vibrant state of share prosperity and fortitude. The Invictus Games represents a transformative jounrey beyond mere survival, we transcent to a thriving reality.