Pictou County athlete reflects on time at Invictus Games

A Pictou County, N.S., athlete at the Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler says it's been a life-changing experience that included competing in five different sports and meeting new friends.

Colin Chabassol, 40, is one of seven athletes on Team Canada either from or currently living in Nova Scotia competing at the games for wounded, injured and ill armed forces personnel, serving or veteran.

"When you leave the military, you leave all these friends and this big group network that you have," Chabassol told CBC News in an interview on Friday.

"So coming back and getting selected for Team Canada for the Invictus Games, your network and this giant family that we had in the military is back and we're able to connect with all the competitors from all over Canada. It's been great."

Chabassol — who served in the Canadian Army and completed three tours in Afghanistan — competed in wheelchair rugby, biathlon, indoor rowing, wheelchair basketball and skeleton during the games that began on Feb. 8 and end Feb. 16.

He applied to compete in the games in 2024. To prepare, he bought a rowing machine.

"[I] jammed it in my basement in front of a TV and started rowing a lot," he said.

"For skeleton, there's nothing you can do. It's just you get a brief, you lay on the sled and go down head first and you're done in about 32 to 34 seconds."

When he found he'd been selected for the team, he travelled to Whistler in March 2024 where he had the chance to try out all the events.

He also met Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who founded the Invictus Games in 2014.

"Prince Harry came to our Team Canada morning breakfast that we had with our friends and family, and the competitors got to meet Prince Harry and Meghan just for a couple seconds. But he's a very chatty person and likes to talk," Chabassol said.

"He understands what we're all going through and he's just a down-to-earth person."

Chabassol said his wife and friend Rob, both veterans, attended the games to cheer for him. He said he's enjoyed being a spectator as well.

"I'm watching swimming today and probably it's the most inspiring event so far that I've seen," he said.

Prior to the games, Chabassol had played hockey for 30 years and currently plays baseball. But he said to compete in front of bigger crowds at a major event was "unreal."

"We were playing France and the gym was off the charts. It was that loud. It was just, it brought tears to my eyes," he said.

Chabassol said anyone eligible to compete in the Invictus Games should apply.

"It can change somebody's life for the better, so if you know a veteran who can apply for it, push them," he said.

"Nothing bad can come from it."