Athletes of the Australian Invictus Games Team have scaled the Sydney Harbour Bridge to garner support and awareness for the upcoming event, which many say has already changed their lives.
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Early on Friday wounded and sick veterans gathered atop the bridge to watch the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 flag rise above the city.
"To be up on top of the Harbour Bridge on a beautiful Sydney morning, the flag flying, was pretty emotional," said Brigid Baker, 36, from Canberra, who will compete in athletics and powerlifting at the event, to run from October 20-27.
Baker, who was discharged from the Australian Defence Force in 2017 after being diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and depression, said the bridge climb embodied the spirit of mateship that the Invictus Games was all about.
This, she said, had rescued her.
"After I left the ADF, I wasn't sure what life meant for me, but Invictus has given me a drive to get up in the morning, to get out there and get back into sport," she said.
Elsewhere across the country flags were raised on iconic landmarks in a show of support for the defence forces.
More than 500 wounded and sick defence force veterans from 18 nations will compete in 11 adaptive sports at venues across Sydney during the week-long event
There are 72 service veterans in the Australian team, the largest ever.
Adelaide-born Emilea Mysko, 30, who left the Royal Australian Navy three years ago due to mental illness and physical injuries sustained in service, said Invictus had not only given her the opportunity to represent her country again, but also enabled her to feel success and achievement again when she thought she never would.
"Invictus gives me that sense of pride that there is more to me, that I can keep going," said Mysko, who will compete in cycling and indoor rowing.
"We've all got different injuries, different illnesses, but we've all got the same common goal, and that's to better ourselves, be the best version of ourselves, despite our limitations."
The Invictus Games are the creation of Prince Harry, who had the inspiration to help wounded and sick military personnel and their families during his decade-long service with the British Army, which included two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
The events are archery, athletics, indoor rowing, driving challenge, powerlifting, road cycling, sailing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball and rugby.
This will be the fourth Invictus Games. The first Games were held in London in 2014, followed by Orlando, Florida in 2016 and Toronto in 2017.The Hague, in The Netherlands, will host the Games in 2020.
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