Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell, Command Master Chief Leilani Cale-Jones, Deputy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, and Petty Officer 1st Class Evan Ward, Coast Guard Enlisted Person of the Year, pose for a photo with Petty Officer 3rd Class Krissy Esget, a retired Coast Guard member participating in the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida, Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Esget is the first female and sole Coast Guard member competing in the games. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Coast Guard members cheered on wounded warriors, including the lone prior Coast Guardsman at the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida, Wednesday.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell, the highest ranking enlisted member of the service, was one of the Coast Guardsmen to cheer on Krissy Esget, the first female, and sole Coast Guardsman to compete in the games.
Esget competed in the 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter backstroke swimming finals. She stated her family was unable to attend, but was happy to see Coast Guard members in the stands. She placed 7th in the freestyle and 5th in the backstroke.
“The Coast Guard is such a small branch, so to have members come see me is an honor,” said Esget, “I had my family here today.”
Prince Harry started the games in 2014 in London to raise awareness and respect for the tens of thousands of worldwide wounded service men and women.
“Krissy has an amazing and resilient spirit; she is truly an inspiration,” said Cantrell. “It was our honor to see her today.”
2016 Invictus Games information and results can be found at http://ift.tt/1RZEkh6
Read more about Esget’s journey: http://coastguard-guardsman-perseveres-at-invictus-games/
