Fife veteran crowns glorious Invictus Games with hat-trick

Basketball win after Team UK medal success in volleyball and rugby

Fife veteran Michael Mellon has capped a glittering Invictus Games with a third medal.

The Cardenden veteran was part of the UK team’s bronze medal-winning side in the final day’s wheelchair basketball. Team UK beat New Zealand 32-16 to take the medal.

He had already collected silver in both the sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugby finals.

It’s been a hugely successful games under the Sydney skies for the 38-yearold, who is part of the British team supported by Help for Heroes.

And Team UK has upheld the medalwinning form in the games’ team sports.

He said it felt great to pick up a bronze with the team.

“They are a great bunch of players on the team and they have worked hard for the last six or seven months. Everyone deserves the bronze they have got.”

Michael, whose family is in Australia to cheer him on, said he particularly liked team sports, enjoying different aspects of each discipline. He credited sport and the Invictus Games – started four years ago by Prince Harry – with being a turning point in his life.

Michael sustained a bad injury while playing rugby for RAF Honington 17 years ago.

His leg later had to be amputated after he developed compartment syndrome.

Before the operation his lack of mobility had seen him pile on the weight.

Coupled with depression, Scotland’s only representative in the British team at the 2018 Invictus Games admitted he “struggled in civvy street”.

“When I had the leg off it was like a fresh start,” he said, adding he began on the road to getting fit and healthy again.

Now being part of the team has done wonders, and he spoke of the camaraderie with the lads on training camps. He said: “It is great to be part of the military environment again. There is always lots of banter.”

He said he loved the Invictus Games and was so glad he applied to take part.

Picture: Getty. Michael Mellon in action at the basketball.