This week in Honolulu, the Pacific trials began for the 2013 Warrior Games, which invites active-duty and retired servicemen and women to compete in an Olympic-style athletic event. The competition will be held next year, but the trials are ongoing to determine the teams.
Wounded warriors are competing in events such as archery, track and field, seated volleyball and wheelchair basketball. The competitors all have disabilities of some kind: spinal cord injuries, post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, and serious illnesses. The ability to persevere against all odds is considered a mark of a strong person. These wounded warriors have fought back to regain their lives following their injuries, and are now sharing their story via athletic competition.
The Navy News reported on the story with a proud focus on their own team, including the Navy and Coast Guard, and had 43 competitors for a spot on the team of 35. One of the featured athletes, a former Naval chaplain, sustained his spinal cord injury in a car accident while he was on leave. His neck and one arm were broken in the accident, and he was then diagnosed as a C-6 incomplete quadriplegic as a result of his injuries.
Athletics and competitions can help those recovering from serious injuries, like spinal and brain injuries, to set a goal and strive towards it in a way that is social and fun. Brain and spine injuries are permanently debilitating, but that hasn’t stopped these servicemen and servicewomen from training and competing.
Source: Military News, “First Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials Begin,”