The second Invictus Games began in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, May 8.
Founded by Prince Harry, the biennial event brings together active duty and veteran military service members with visible and invisible injuries to compete in 10 different sports.
The games debuted in London in 2014, and this year, more than 500 athletes from 15 different countries, along with thousands of fans and family members converged in Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the five-day event.
Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus.
Check out these 18 incredible images from Orlando as the Invictus Games get underway.
1. The opening ceremonies were a beautiful celebration of courage and competition.
Photo by Tim Rooke/Getty Images.
2. There were presentations from the U.S. military, including the U.S. Silent Drill Platoon, which performs exercises in absolute silence to showcase the discipline and professionalism of the Marine Corps.
Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus.
3. Invictus Games founder and veteran Prince Harry spoke to the crowd of athletes, families, and fans.
"I'm a long way from London tonight..." the prince said, "...but when I look out, I see so many familiar faces, servicemen and women, their friends and their families, and all of the people who got them here. I feel like I'm at home."
Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus.
4. All 15 teams entered the arena to a roaring crowd.
And just like the Olympics, there are matching uniforms, flags, and fanfare for the occasion.
The team from the Netherlands enters the arena. Photo by Gregg Newton/AFP/Getty Images.
5. That's because in addition to veteran-athletes, the complex was filled with families, friends, and fans.
Will Reynolds, captain of the American Invictus Team, was joined by his wife and daughters.
Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus.
6. But soon it was time to compete. Check out this fierce competitor's Wonder Woman prosthetic at a sitting volleyball match.
Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus.
7. There was plenty of excitement in the air as Team USA entered the Field House to compete in the rowing finals.
Photo by Alex Menendez/ Getty Images for Invictus Games.
8. To allow the athletes to compete at their highest level, there are adaptations and modifications to some of the events and equipment.
Powerlifter Christine Gauthier of Canada uses a wheelchair for mobility, but while she competes, she is secured to the weight bench.
Photo by Scott Iskowitz/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
8. Cyclists prepare to speed down the course on hand bikes.
Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
9. Archer Martin Clapton from the United Kingdom holds the arrow in his teeth while aiming at the target.
Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
10. And these competitors put it all on the line during the indoor rowing finals.
Photo by Alex Menendez/ Getty Images for Invictus Games.
11. Family members and fans from around the world have converged on Orlando to celebrate their favorite heroes.
Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
12. Even if they only get a glimpse of the competitors before they dash off.
Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
13. There are 10 competitive events at the games, including sitting volleyball, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, track and field, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis.
Photo by Scott Iskowitz/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
14. Each event requires some serious strength, along with hours of practice, dedication, and skill...
Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
15. ...things these veterans and active duty service members have no shortage of.
Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
16. For every point, win, or goal, the fans go wild!
Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
17. Because at the end of the day, this is bigger than a sporting event.
Adaptive sports provide numerous benefits for veterans with disabilities, including decreased stress, increased independence, a reduced dependence on pain and depression medications, and even higher achievement in employment and education.
Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images for Invictus Games.
18. It's a celebration of teamwork, fortitude, and second chances.
Invictus is Latin for "unconquered," and these athletes are just that.
The games are only a few days long, but the impact they have on the competitors, families, and fans lasts much longer.
Nerys Pearce of Team Great Britain is presented with a silver medal in the powerlifting event by President George W. Bush, honorary chairman of the Invictus Games in Orlando. Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus.
Events like these are a reminder of the resilience these veterans and their families possess.
Coming back from war with injuries and illnesses isn't easy, but opportunities to compete for and represent their home nations can be a light in the shadow of recovery for these athletes and their brothers and sisters in arms.
Photo by Alex Menendez/ Getty Images for Invictus Games.
There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."