2018 Warrior Games in Review

The torch has now been passed to the good people of Tampa, FL as the 2018 Warrior Games has drawn to a close.  From the beginning, I promised I would trying to provide the most comprehensive blogging coverage possible.  I still managed the day-to-day responsibilities of my everyday-job, while trying to catch up and learn all I could about the athletes and veterans.

My commitment was to treat the Warrior Games no differently than the Paralympic Games, of which I always strive to approach no differently than the Olympics. Therefore, I was documenting this last week as if I would the 2018 Tokyo Olympics.

Unlike the Olympic Games, most of the people who compete in the Warrior Gamesdid not wake up striving to become the next Olympic gold medalist.  Their mission has always been to best serve the greatest nation in the world.  Along with the U.S. Olympic Committee, the Department of Defense established this event back in 2010 as part of the rehabilitation and recovery process.  Many of these people are looking for purpose after injuries and trauma suffered in the line of duty.   While I was researching some of the competitors, I saw where many struggled with brain injuries, PTSD and other forms of depression.

Many others had Paralympic-ailments as well, including amputations and cancer.  Most who represented their respective branch this last week will return to their base as they continue to serve protect our country.  I’ll also send out a special thanks to the people from Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom who also came as a part of their country’s rehabilitation program, whether it be Australia’s Adaptive Sports Program, Canada’s Soldier On, or UK’s Help for Heroes.

Since I don’t have direct ties to any of the branches, I wasn’t going to show any bias- aside from the occasional cheering on of the underdog.  Here are some of the most-memorable names from the previous week in the Rocky Mountains.

• Team Air Force

Master Sgt. Kenneth Guinn

The explosive ordinance disposal specialist was no stranger to the podium.

He opened the day with world record-speed breaking not once, but twice last Saturday.  His wins came in the men’s 200m-5.5 lower, clocking in a record time of 26.25, and in the 400m race-5.5 lower, crossing the finish line at 1:00.59.

That week was only the beginning for the Master Sergeant.  During the powerlifting competition Tuesday, the West Texan found gold once again by lifting 107kg for the win (men’s up to 72kg).

Two days later, he helped his fellow Airmen Lt. Col Melissa McAvoy and First Lt. Ryan Novack to gold in archery’s team recurve-open.

That was one of four team medals the Master Sgt. acquired.  On day one, he helped the Blue Team to gold in the 4x100m mixed relay on the track.  He also snagged a bronze in sitting volleyball and another one in wheelchair basketball.

On the surface, it appears that Guinn is an athlete who competes without any ailments.  He actually deals with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and has had reconstructive brain injuries.

Finally it’s nice to see athletes from West Texas (where I’m from) do well in competitions.  While he played football for Sunray High School, he was one of many who brought the Bobcats back to prominence after they had missed the playoffs for several years.

• Team Army

Staff Sgt. Altermese Kendrick

Sgt. Kendrick‘s military service has nearly spanned three decades, as she is a Soldier who enlisted back in 1991.  The Texan has held numerous ranks and titles while serving in the Army.  Her current one is chaplain assistant.  She also has been forced to compete with a hip extensive team in labrum and sciatic joint.  This may not come as a prototype of someone who was ranked the third-best overall athlete of these Games, but that’s exactly what Sgt. Kendrick was.

The U.S. Army veteran started the week with a gold in the women’s 100m sprint-3.0, followed by wins in cycling (open handcycle time trial) and indoor rowing (women’s one-minute sprint-5.5 lower).  She also earned a powerlifting silver (women’s 67-86 kg).

The Sgt. from Ft. Hood also participated in archery, shooting and swimming.

This 2017 article tells the story of her journey in the U.S. Army, as well as her faith.

Kendrick was also the second runner-up for this year’s Ultimate Champion honor, which goes out to the best athletes who competed in eight, or more sports.

As admirable as her athletic accomplishments are, sports is not the greatest challenge.  Kendrick has overcome sexual assault and depression. 

In the aforementioned article, she says:

“I am a survivor of sexual assault and I use the growth that I experience, as I journeyed through that dark place, to help others to keep their faith and find the power to stay strong as they grow and go forward. My journey here was necessary for my time now.”

• U.S. Marine Corps

The USMC swim team, all of them!

Even though the Hoorahs many not have turned in the impressive medal count some may have expected, their performance in the pool Friday was nothing short of inspirational.

The First to Fight swam to 38 medals Friday, 24 of them gold.

To show how dominant this was, their gold medal count eclipsedTeam Navy‘s overall count of 24.  The Sailors were also the runners-up.

I will say Lance Cpl. Kira Lavine proved the be one of the best swimmers representing the Marine Corps.  The air support operations operator, who is stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA, suffers depression, anxiety, and sciatica- according to the 2018 Warrior Games media guide.

Cpl. Lavine set records in the in the 50m freestyle-6.0 (33.02), and in the 100m freestyle-6.0 (1:13.74), along with two other golds- 50m breastroke-6.0 and women’s 4x50m relay- 22 pts.  She also took silver in the women’s backstroke 6.0.

She joins Staff Sgt. Robert Dominguez, Sgt. Eric Johansen, and Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Padilla, who’s only medals of these Games were earned in the pool.  They all turned in a gold-medal performance.

• Team Navy 

Lt. Anna Kerry

As soon as the sun rose for this year’s Warrior Games, the surface warfare specialist from Miami, FL was just about unstoppable.

She grabbed five gold medals, all while setting five records.

Lt. Kerry‘s gold-medal wins (and times, all women’s 5.5-upper):

• 100m (16.34)
• 200m (34.34)
• 400m (1:26.27)
• 800m (3:28.24)
• 1500m (7:35.42)

The most-climatic of those was her 23-second win over Staff Sgt. Lauren Montoya, who ran for Team SOCOM.  The other four wins came unopposed; however, she still set Warrior Games records while she was running.

Lt. Kerry was also a part of Team Navy‘s 4x100m silver medal track & field relay team, and took bronze in cycling’s recumbent cycle-open competition.  This was also the second road race ever for the Floridian.

While not in pursuit of medals, Kerry competes for crowns and sashes.  She won last year’s Miss Quantico pageant and competed for this year’s Mrs. Virginia America. The Lt. has also helped with her local Special Olympics.

• Team SOCOM

U.S. Army Captain James Howard

While competing as a C5-C7 quadriplegic, the former combat engineer entered his events in the 1.0 classification, which is given to those with the most-severe impairments.

To complement his gold in men’s discus, he gained three more in the swimming pool.

The U.S. Army captain‘s win in the 50m freestyle-1.0 was done with a 4:42.92, along with a 6:43.52 in the 50m backstroke-1.0.  His win in the 100m freestyle-1.0 is what most people will remember, and that’s the part that made the highlights on SportsCenter.

While refusing to use his legs, he touched the wall 13:48.06 after the starting gun went off.  As he was nearing the wall for the finish, other swimmers and lifeguards were on standby.  He remained head-above-water as he was met with a standing ovation.

You can see it for yourself here on Instagram.

On Saturday, Cpt. Howard earned two silvers in indoor rowing(one-minute sprint and the four-minute endurance challenge).

• Team Australia

Rowena Langan, Royal Australian Air Force

To go-along with her three silvers and one bronze earned in various sports throughout the week, Langan flies back to Australia with a record-setting gold in the women’s 50m breaststroke-5.5 upper, touching the wall at 51.95.

This was the only gold for the water-crazed nation Friday.  Even with the risk of editorializing, I’ll say the good people from the Land Down Under will take any swimming gold they can get.

• Team Canada

Master Cpl. Charlene Kendell, Royal Canadian Air Force

While our friends to the north bottomed-out on the medal count, it’s safe to point out that Cpl. Kendell was the Canadian standout.

The Air Force Corporal earned gold in powerlifting’s 86+ kg competition.  In other sports, she gained one silver and three bronze medals.

On Saturday, her impressive resume earned her the “Heart of the Team” award, which was voted-on by her Canadian teammates.

• Team U.K.

PTE Richard Heather 

Last week, the British Army Private earned three golds and a bronze, while competing in cycling, indoor rowing, swimming, and track.

Final 2018 Medal Table

• Team Air Force (70 gold, 56 silver, 39 bronze)
• Team Navy (41 gold, 32 silver, 28 bronze)
• Team Army (39 gold, 33 silver, 26 bronze)
• Team Marines (44 gold, 30 silver, 14 bronze)
• Team SOCOM (29 gold, 19 silver, 17 bronze)
• Team UK (22 gold, 16 silver, 14 bronze)
• Team Australia (13 gold, 9 silver, 9 bronze)
• Team Canada (5 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze)

Closing (Warrior Games) Comments

This officially wraps up my coverage from the 2018 Warrior Games.  I’ve actually had people ask about my time in Colorado Springs, or this being my full-time job.  Neither one is the case!  My intention has been to gain more experience writing about Olympic sports, and do so by honoring those who have defended the United States while serving in the military.  

Much time, research and writing went into the process.  For that reason, I will always appreciate your readership, and I hope you can continue to click on the Medal Zone link, while I resume with more sporting events. 

Maybe, I can be in closer to the competition next summer, while getting to see Tampa!

Go USA!!!

Other Olympic-News

• NCAA Track & Field Championships: 

Big national wins for Georgia (men) and Southern California (women).  I will send a shoutout to fellow Red Raider Divine Oduduru for his title in the men’s 200m sprint.  Back in the 2016 Summer Olympics, the Nigerian sprinter ran in the same semifinal heat as Usain Bolt and Andre De Grasse.  It’s the same one that went viral, after the two were seen smiling at each other while finishing 1-2.

• Katie Ledecky TYR’ing it up

The 21-year-old long-distance swimming legend has officially gained her first sponsorship since turning pro.  That is with TYR, which manufactures swimwear for those competing on the elite level.

According to the Washington Post, this endorsement is “the most lucrative partnership in the history of the swim industry.”

Ironically enough, her first event since turning pro was the TYR Pro Swim Series.

Ledecky will hit the pool late July for the 2018 Phillips 66 Nationals in Irvine, CA.  If she can just keep winning, she will be play a key role for Team USA this August at the 2018 Pan-Pacific Swimming Championships in Tokyo.  Pan-Pacs is the most-prestigious swimming event, to not be contested on the Olympic or World Championship stage.  In case you’re not as familiar with the event, it pretty-much involves any country that isn’t in Europe.  The main competition will come from Team Australia, who owned the pool while hosting the Commonwealth Games last April.

• Roland Garros

Rafael Nadal earns his 11th French Open title sweeping Dominic Thiem in three sets (6-4, 6-3, and 6-2).  On the women’s side, Simona Halep knocked off Sloane Stephens in the deciding set (4-6, 6-1, 6-1).

Later this week, I’ll try to cover the 2018 FIFA World Cup.  I’ll send out a preview Tuesday, which will be a Q&A with Gabriel Martinez, former journalist and writer for Play for 90.  He is also a die-hard soccer enthusiast, former work colleague and overall good friend.