Student hits target to land Invictus bronze

A University of Portsmouth student and former Royal Marine has won bronze in the archery event at the 2016 Invictus Games in Florida.

Jon Flint, pictured right, competed in archery and swimming events at the international multi-sport event founded by Prince Harry, which is open to wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans.

Jon, 40, from West Sussex, is currently studying for a degree in history.

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He said: ‘It’s been a long hard run-up to the Invictus Games and it has been a massive challenge to juggle health issues, university work, family commitments and training for the games.

‘I feel all the hard work has been vindicated through qualifying as the top-seeded UK archer in the ranking round and with winning the bronze medal in the team compound archery event. To get a medal was beyond my wildest dreams. I couldn’t have done it without the support that I have had from my family and the university.’

While on an exercise on the Isle of Skye in 1996, Jon, who undertook operational tours in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, fell about 30ft while abseiling at night and broke his back. He did not realise the damage until 2010. Jon took the decision in 2007 to leave the corps for personal reasons and pursue a career in civilian life.