Episode 68: Mark Ormrod - Former Royal Marines Commando and Triple Amputee on Peak Performance and Resilience

Today’s guest is Mark Ormrod. Mark is a former Royal Marines Commando, an Invictus Games Medalist, author, and motivational speaker. After triggering an IED on a routine foot patrol in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve, Mark suffered serious injuries resulting in a triple amputation: both legs above the knee and his right arm above the elbow. He was the UK’s first triple amputee to survive the Afghanistan conflict. Not one to resign himself to live life on the sidelines, Mark, with the help of an amazing team and mentors around him, used his setback as a springboard for growth and reinvention. He’s since gone on to be an 11x medalist at the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, an author of an award-winning autobiography, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt, and a husband and father. And he’s got far more that he wants to do and accomplish in this life. In this interview, we get into Mark’s road to joining to the Royal Marines, the day he stepped on the IED, his recovery and mindset during that process, how to handle setbacks, and his work with the charity REORG.

Timestamps

00:02:43 Growing up in England and childhood passions

00:06:55 Interest in joining the Royal Marines

00:10:19 Road to joining the Royal Marines

00:12:12 His role in the Royal Marines

00:18:34 The day he stepped on the IED

00:30:41 His reaction to the triple amputation and being told he'd never be able to walk again

00:36:44 How he was able to use this setback as a springboard for growth

00:43:40 Key lessons he learned during his rehab process

00:45:28 How others can accelerate out of traumas

00:49:10 His transition to civilian life

00:51:17 Writing the book Man Down

00:54:13 REORG Charity

00:58:04 Training jiu-jitsu as a triple amputee

00:59:33 Meaning behind "give yourself permission to perform"

01:00:26 What he enjoys most about jiu-jitsu

01:01:40 Ultimate goal in jiu-jitsu

01:02:24 How he maintains a positive mindset day in, day out

01:03:31 What he wants to accomplish 5 years from now

01:04:57 His daily routine

01:06:47 His driving force

01:07:43 Parting words of wisdom around staying driven