Towson Sgt. Gets Gold In Invictus Games

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- Some 500 wounded men and women veterans went to Orlando for the Invictus Games. Among them, a former Towson football player injured in the line of duty as a sergeant in the US army.

He told his story to Jessica Kartalija.

"The opening ceremony really kicked off all the sports events and it really fired me up," said Sgt. Ryan Major.

Retired Army Sgt. Major was 10 months into his first deployment in Iraq when he stepped on an IED. He lost both legs and several fingers.

"It's been tough. It's been tough. I've been on a long journey," Major said. "Waking up out of my coma, not knowing where my next step was. Sports is what really got me going to getting better and healing."

This month, Major competed in the second Invictus Games, a competition for wounded members of the military.

"I don't even know the words. It was amazing to be there and to have other military veterans hosting it was even greater," he said.

Major spent years at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Institute.

"To have one of our athletes actually go and compete and then win gold medals is just phenomenal," said recreational therapist Pam Cauley.

"I got two gold medals, one in shotput," Major said.

He competed in cycling, shotput, discus, power lifting, rowing and rugby. He also plays for the Maryland Mayhem club rugby team as the team's captain.

"Anything that I can do, I want to compete in," he said. "The feeling of doing sport is it's like I'm back to where I was before I was hit."

Major is finished with his rehabilitation and says he is committed to living life to the fullest.

"Just like the military, you adapt and overcome and here's your product," he said.

Major lives in Towson and will soon be starting his third season with the Maryland Mayhem rugby team. He says he plans to compete in the Invictus Games next year in Toronto.