Peter’s proud of medals all in a row
T OWNSVI L L E ’ S P r i v a t e Peter Brown has his eyes focused on the future after scooping the field at the Sydney Invictus Games
Brown won gold, silver and bronze in rowing during the week- long sporting event, and for Brown it was a life- changing experience.
Brown, who shattered his ankle in a parachuting accident in 2012 during a field exercise, endured a painful, exhausting and mentally draining healing process that continues to this day.
“I joined the army and did a course as a parachute rigger, which is basically learning how to pack parachutes,” Brown said.
“At the end of the sixmonth course we had to perform jumps, and on my very first jump it all went wrong.
“I plummeted into the ground, but all I remember of the jump is being in the plane. I shattered my left leg; snapped the tibia and fibula, suffered nerve damage on the inside of the knee and destroyed my ankle.
“The doctors said it was basically like having a rock shatter through a glass window.”
Brown spent six weeks in hospital and endured multiple surgeries, and remained bedridden for more than six months afterwards, which was then followed by constant physiotherapy and even more surgeries.
“I had to learn again,” Brown said.
“I can’t run, can’t squat … can’t climb a flight of stairs.”
Brown now hopes to compete at the 2020 Invictus Games.
“That’s a long- term goal, but right now I need a bit of Zen to clear my mind – maybe do a bit of camping with ( partner) Gillian – and then I’ll work towards my next goal,” he said. to walk