Every member of Team Wales at the Commonwealth Games will have overcome obstacles and train hard to represent their country. That is the nature of top level sport.
Few however, will have had to overcome what 46-year-old Sean Gaffney went through.
Sean is an aircraft technician who has served in the Navy for 28 years and represented Team Wales in Australia as a para powerlifting competitor, coming 10th.
This was the culmination of a 19-year journey that started with a freak accident.
He was part of the Fleet Air Arm Field Gun Crew and was preparing for the Royal Tournament back in 1999.
Warning: Some of the pictures included in this article are of a graphic nature
“It was during a practise run,” said Sean.
“As we manoeuvred a 900lb gun across some 28ft chasm, attempting to connect it to a supportive rope, the barrel dropped from a height of around seven feet, smashing my left foot.”
Despite feeling ‘no pain’ initially and even trying to stand up, it soon became apparent that the injury he had sustained was worse than feared as five men struggled to pin down Sean, “The pain was even savage with morphine,” he said.
Initially undergoing 25 surgeries over a three-month period as surgeons battled to save the foot, they eventually had to admit defeat. His 26th operation finally saw the amputation of his leg. Most people would just give up at this point. But Sean is made of sterner stuff.
He said: “I developed Septicaemia, a form of blood poisoning, and was told I wouldn’t last two hours with the only choice being amputation.
“One month later I was given my first prosthetic leg and walked out of the disability centre without the need for a walking stick.”
In January 2000, Sean joined his local gym and attempted running.
“It was the beginning of learning how to stand up again after a fall,” he said.
Then the Royal Navy gave Sean the opportunity to be retained in service and he’s never looked back.
“A year after my amputation I passed my 1.5 mile and multi-stage fitness tests using the basic leg provided by the NHS. Now even at 46-years-old, I can get the pass mark required of a 20-year old.”
On top of this Sean faced more adversary when he had to battle with a double dose of testicular cancer from 2001 until 2007 when he received the all clear.
He said: “That only added a further hurdle to my return as the first amputee to return to active service since 1974, but I’m forever grateful that Lt (RN) Carl Harwood took a chance on me and offered me a job in Iraq.
“By 2009 I was serving a seven-month tour in Iraq, followed by seven months in Afghanistan in 2011/2012 working as a rotary wing liaison officer overseeing the use of civilian helicopter squadron to resupply patrol bases.”
For most people who had been through such tribulations they would be grateful for just being able to walk. However, in 2008 Sean developed a passion for obstacle course racing becoming the first amputee to ever complete one of the first courses he took on.
He said: “That passion has turned into a special family affair and now my sister and wife both also have the OCR (obstacle course racing) bug.
“We always look for bigger, longer, tougher events and our next challenge will be Total Warrior’s Leeds event on the weekend of June 23 and 24.
“OCR has given both me and my family a means to face adversity. Not only that, but it allows us to travel the country, see some amazing scenery and meet some inspiring people.”
According to Sean, he could not turn down the chance to represent his country at the Commonwealth Games at the age of 46.
Already an Invictus Games double gold medalist in 2016, a 2017 World Indoor Rowing Champion and a silver medallist from the most recent World Indoor Rowing Championships, he lined up as a para powerlifting competitor in Australia.
“Powerlifting isn’t my passion, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. It was after a chance meeting with a Welsh team education officer at a powerlifting event in Stockport that the prospect came to life.
“A lot of hard work was put in since then, but hopefully it goes to show that at 46, it’s never too late to become an elite athlete!”
Swapping pies and “biscuits by the packet”, Sean now eats a balanced diet packed full of plenty of lean meats, vegetables and brown rice.
“Since taking up powerlifting I’ve dropped from 116kg to 100kg in an attempt to be more competitive,” he said
“My best domestic lift in competition is 181kg, and in world cup events under International Paralympic Committee rules it’s 172kg.”
Aside from the Commonwealth Games, one of Sean’s goals for the future is to return to the top step of the podium at the 2019 World Indoor Rowing Championships. First, however, he’s excited to swap the gym for the great outdoors in June.
“It will be nice to be able to get out and run outdoors again and have a chance to be wet and muddy! With the Leeds event now local to me, I’m really looking forward to it.”
With obstacle course racing having become somewhat of a family affair, the family also look to raise money for charity each year and this year is no different.
“We have raised money for Help for Heroes and Blesma (a charity supporting limbless veterans) in the past and will again this year do the same.”
If you’d like to donate to Blesma as Sean and family take on Total Warrior’s twenty-five strong obstacle course in June, visit his justgiving page.
To find out more about Total Warrior and to sign-up for your spot visit www.totalwarrior.co.uk
