2014 Warrior Games Obstacles

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, UNITED STATES

10.02.2014

Courtesy Audio

Defense Media Activity - Proper         

More than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members are competing at the 2014 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but the journey from injury to competition is not an easy one. Petty officer Brandie Wills has more.

[MC1 Brandie Wills, Colorado Springs, Colorado]

"The athletes at the 2014 Warrior Games have all worked though some serious challenges to here. Lt. Gen. Douglas Robb, the director of defense health agency says events like these are an integral part of a service member's recovery process and journey back into life."



[Lt. Gen. Douglas Robb, director, defense health agency]

"oh, it's a tremendous piece of the recovery and in particular rehabilitation aspect. I mean, a lot of our guys are dealing with adaptations that now they've got to carry forward and if they want to continue to serve, and as I said, our number one goal is to get them back into service, learning how to use that adaptation better. Adaptive sports is one of those mechanisms for that. Along with just the peer-to-peer relationships they build in it, it helps strength that and after suffering a devastating injury, these guys are dealing with a psychological scar as well and really, sports help you recover from that."



[wills]

"and one Airman who has used adaptive sports to aid in his recovery is Daniel Crane of team Air Force. Crane lost the use of his right arm after being shot by an anti-military local while stationed overseas. Now he competes in archery, but he's had to employ some interesting techniques to overcome his disability."



[Daniel Crane, team air force]

"well, i never knew i could do this, but once I found out, i mean, i embraced it and the way I do it, since I can't use my right hand, I put a small mouth tab on the string and i bite down on it with my teeth and i just pull back and let go with my teeth."



"and so the story goes with Lt. j.g. Laura root, a team navy athlete. Root was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in 2011, but decided that staying active was her best treatment, so she took up shooting."



[Lt. j.g. Laura root, team navy]

"I was luckily new to shooting so i had a blank slate to work with, but i just learned to shoot through muscle spasms and vision problems and kind of the instability that comes with a neuromuscular disease. I have balance issues and other...a lot of vision problems actually will affect it, but i just learn to get around it and i love shooting and i think it's a great sport to help us relax and enjoy ourselves again.



[wills]

"and after days of competition these athletes are all obviously enjoying themselves, as evidenced by the smiles on their faces. Reporting from the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, I'm Petty Officer Brandie Wills.

• Date Taken: 10.02.2014
• Date Posted: 10.02.2014 21:52
• Category: Newscasts
• Audio ID: 38482
• Filename: 1410/DOD_102008737.mp3
• Length: 00:02:28
• Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, US