Former Navy corpsman reflects on Invictus Games victory
The Invictus Games wrapped up Thursday night in Orlando, and Team USA did not disappoint. The Americans dominated the medal podium, taking the most honors overall.
Discus and shot put thrower Max Rohn was among the champions, reclaiming his title from 2014 and winning two gold medals. The former Navy corpsman said the Invictus Games, an international competition for wounded service men and women started by Prince Harry, has meant "everything" to him.
"It's kind of a celebration to a certain point in your recovery process. So this is like a finite point that you could look back on and just feel accomplished," Rohn said Friday on "CBS This Morning."
When Rohn was five months into his first tour in Iraq in 2009, a grenade struck his vehicle, and his right leg sustained serious injury. Doctors performed 14 surgeries to try to save it before Rohn requested a 15th to amputate.
Now he said losing his leg has made him a better person.
"One of my Marines says that, 'It's the best thing that ever happened to me.' And that's a difficult thing to hear at the beginning of the journey, but as you could see, it's taken me to places that I would never go before," Rohn explained.
Yet, anger is a great motivator, he told "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King.
"For some things, especially shotput, it's more of a grunt sport, so you get a little angry, and shotput goes a little farther," Rohn said.
He's now training in hopes of making the 2016 Paralympics team.
"I will be 100 percent ready," Rohn said with a smile. "My competition is the best in the world. We have two of the best U.S. throwers, so I need to get up to their level, which I am at in practice. I just need to put it together for competition."