Invictus Heroes Half Marathon Brings International Invictus Community Together in Romania
The Invictus Games Foundation was proud to support Invictus Romania in bringing together wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans from Romania, Ukraine and across Europe for the Invictus Heroes Half Marathon in Bistrița.
Organised by Invictus Romania, the event took place on Heroes Day, June 10 and brought together more than 2,000 participants from Romania and abroad, including active duty servicemen and women, wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, foreign military personnel from NATO forces stationed in Romania, and representatives from the Ministry of National Defence.
Through the Foundation's Beyond the Games programme, Invictus Romania welcomed 20 wounded, injured and sick participants from Ukraine and 20 from other European nations to join 40 Romanian participants at the event, creating opportunities for international connection, recovery and shared experience through sport.
The Invictus Heroes Half Marathon formed part of Romania's wider sporting celebrations throughout 2026, marking 50 years since the first ever "Perfect 10" in gymnastics, achieved by Romanian sporting icon Nadia Comăneci at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
The year-long programme of events, known as "Anul Nadia Comăneci" (The Nadia Comăneci Year), celebrates one of the most significant moments in sporting history and includes a range of events designed to inspire participation, resilience and excellence through sport.
For many participants, the event provided a meaningful goal to work towards, helping them stay focused on their recovery while connecting with others who share similar experiences.
Romanian participant Gabriel Hanganu reflected on the impact the event had on his recovery journey.
"It gave me a concrete recovery goal. It motivated me to consistently follow the recovery and training program," he said.
The opportunity to take part alongside members of the international Invictus community was one of the highlights of the event.
"The beautiful moment during the Half Marathon was when I was able to run with my injured colleagues from other countries," Gabriel said.
"My confidence in myself and my body's ability to do difficult things has increased," Gabriel remarked after the event ended.
"The recent activity was a very valuable experience, which gave me the opportunity to contribute to an important cause and to collaborate with dedicated people.
"I appreciate the efforts of the Invictus Games Foundation and its partners in supporting the recovery, development and integration of participants. I believe that the programmes and activities carried out have a significant positive impact and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this initiative."
Alongside the Heroes Half Marathon, the Invictus Games Foundation is also supporting the Invictus Rowing Cup "Perfect 10", which has been included in the official Nadia Comăneci Year programme and will be held at a later date.
The Invictus Games Foundation's support formed part of its wider Beyond the Games programme, which helps maintain connection, purpose and opportunities for recovery year round through sport and adventurous challenges around the world.
By supporting participation in events such as the Invictus Heroes Half Marathon, the Foundation continues to ensure that opportunities for recovery through sport are available throughout the year and beyond the Games themselves.
If you are a member of the international Armed Forces community and were injured or fell ill during or as a direct result of your service, you are eligible to join the We Are Invictus platform and access opportunities Beyond the Games.