The Warrior Games

Does anyone know what the Warrior Games are?  These games are represented by more than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans that participate in seven sports - archery, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball.  Athletes represent Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations and the British Armed Forces.

 

The games were first held in 2010 and were designed to introduce injured service members and vets to Paralympic sport competition and to encourage them to stay physically active!  The events are held at the Olympic Training Center and the Air Force Academy.

 

Son in law Brad has participated in the Warrior Games the past couple of years doing archery and this year I met Jaime, Rayna and Kylan at the games so I could watch Brad!

 

I had never really watched anyone shoot their bows before (besides Glenn when he practices for hunting) so it was quite interesting to watch them practice and learn the rules!

 

 

It was a humbling experience watching these guys and gals - many were in wheelchairs, many walked with a limp or a cane and one guy in a wheelchair actually pulled his bow back with a mouthpiece.  To think of all the struggles these courageous people go through with their handicaps and disabilities makes our normal life look pretty easy!

 

There were 2 groups of bow archers, using either a compound bow or a recurve bow and each one would shoot 3 arrows at their particular target - and after everyone was done, they would go out with their scorers to get their results and their arrows.  There were 20 different sets during the morning shoot and it was fun watching through the binoculars to see where Brad's arrows would land!!

Brad did an awesome job and we were sure rooting for him!  The top 8 would move into the finals after lunch - and Brad came in tied for 4th place!!!  We were all really excited for him!!

After lunch the final 8 shot with only the top 4 moving into the final round - Brad did great and stayed in 4th position until the final round - and then he lost by 1 point!!  He was pretty disappointed but we weren't because in the last 2 years, he didn't even place in the Top 8 and this year he did!!!  Final results put him in 5th place overall - CONGRATULATIONS BRAD!!!  We're all so proud of you for doing so well and I'm already looking forward to watching you next year if you're chosen to represent the Special Operations team once again!!