P.E.I. man ready to compete and cheer on teammates at Invictus Games in Germany

Kenton Dill is feeling a lot of emotions leading up to the next edition of the Invictus Games for injured or ill past and present members of the military.

He is the only athlete from Prince Edward Island on the Canadian team and will travel to Germany to  compete in swimming, rowing and seated volleyball.

"It's ups and downs of emotion: nerves, stress, questioning if you're ready... being scared as well as being excited," said Dill. 

"It's something that's going to be spectacular." 

Dill was in the military for 24 years as a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, serving in Afghanistan and Bosnia. He said he is dealing with the fallout from knee and shoulder injuries as well as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. 

"Some days are good days, some days are bad days," he said. 

Rehabilitation through athletic training and time spent in a supportive community of teammates who have lived similar experiences has helped him, he said.

"We are all in the same boat. We may have different mechanisms of injuries, but we are all healing," said Dill.

He said the environment has allowed him to open up: "It gave me a voice again." 

The word "Invictus" means undefeated or unconquered, according to the Team Canada website. The games are meant to embody the fighting spirit of those who have been wounded, and personifies what they can achieve in the aftermath. 

Prince Harry launched the event in 2014 after he saw how the Warrior Games in the United States helped people there on the road to recovery.

The 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany, will welcome about 500 athletes from 20 countries. 

Team Canada has 31 members, all serving members or veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces. 

Coach Denis Cloutier helps train the Canadians.