Four golds and a silver for SECAmb’s Mike Goody

A dominant day in the pool on Sunday 14 September saw South East Coast Ambulance Emergency Care Support Worker, Mike Goody come home with five medals - four golds and a silver – in the swimming at the inaugural Invictus Games.

Bognor-based Mike, who lost his leg in an explosion while serving with the RAF in Afghanistan, also captained the swimming team at the event which took place at the London Aquatics Centre at the Olympic Park.

His golds came in the 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle and 4x50m freestyle relay, after he had started his day with a silver medal in the 50m freestyle as part of a Great Britain clean sweep of the medals.

Mike, who is aiming to become the country’s first amputee paramedic was delighted with his performance. He said: “It was an amazing experience. I knew it was going to be good but didn’t realise it was going to be such a big event when I signed up for it. It’s all been a bit surreal and weird with people asking me for my autograph. I’m really pleased with my performance – although I was aiming for five golds!”

Mike is now taking some time to consider the options available to him which include the next Paralympics in Rio in 2016.

Mike’s manager, Clinical Operations Manager Steve Andrews said: “Mike was amazing. He certainly performed a captain’s role. We’re all extremely proud of his achievements and I have no doubt he has a very bright future both in the pool and with SECAmb.”

SECAmb chief executive Paul Sutton added: “Mike really excelled at the Games and I’m delighted for him and his achievements. He has overcome a great deal of adversity to get to where he is today. On behalf of everyone at SECAmb I’d like to say a big well done and wish him the best of luck in both his career and his exploits in the water.”

Further details and coverage the swimming and all the Games’ events can be found via the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/r3m2GGxhqT3dr9kJbFS3rv/invictus-games-schedule