Army swimmers earn 57 medals at DOD Warrior Games

By David VergunJune 29, 2015

Army swimmers earn 57 medals at DOD Warrior Games
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Reservist Chasity Kuczer comes up for air while competing in the breaststroke event during the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Manassas, Va., June 27, 2015. The swimming event portion of the games was held at the Freedom Aquatic and ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army swimmers earn 57 medals at DOD Warrior Games
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army swimmers earn 57 medals at DOD Warrior Games
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army swimmers earn 57 medals at DOD Warrior Games
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army swimmers earn 57 medals at DOD Warrior Games
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army swimmers earn 57 medals at DOD Warrior Games
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army swimmers earn 57 medals at DOD Warrior Games
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

MANASSAS, Va. (Army News Service, June 28, 2015) -- Soldiers took home 17 gold, 22 silver and 18 bronze medals Saturday from the 48 swimming events at the Department of Defense Warrior Games.

The meet was held at the Manassas Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center pool, lasting from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All competitive strokes: freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke were included with the exception of butterfly.

To accommodate all the swimmers in the races, more than one heat was held for the same stroke and distance event. First-place Army swimmers were:

Matthew Mueller: 50-meter freestyle, 37:34; 100-m freestyle, 1:29.5; 50-m backstroke, 55:19; and, 50-m breaststroke, 1:07.3.

Michael McPhall: 50-m freestyle, 29:96; 100-m freestyle, 1:10.3; and, 50-m breaststroke, 38:61.

Steven Bortle: 50-m freestyle, 31:73; and, 50-m breaststroke, 47:02.

Randi Gavell: 50-m freestyle, 34:33; 50-m backstroke, 41:94; and, 50-m breaststroke, 44:97.

Ola Nahale: 50-m freestyle, 1:18.8.

Monica Martinez: 50-m breaststroke, 58:14.

Team Army placed first in the 200-m mixed freestyle relay with a time of 02:18.3; women's 200-m freestyle relay, 02:31.6; and 200-m mixed freestyle relay, 02:03.9.

Army swimmer Blake Johnson slid into the water in starting position for the backstroke. But, he and the other swimmers were called out of the water just before the start as refs and officials met to discuss something.

"I'm pumping adrenaline," he said, meaning he was psyched up to race when the timeout was given. He said he and others are here to win and bring home the gold.

The games have resulted in many friendships. He and fellow Army teammate, Patrick Timmons, have developed a close bond, he said.

Army swimmer Stefan Leroy lost most of both legs after stepping on an improved explosive device, or IED, while carrying a fellow Soldier to a medevac helicopter, June 7, 2012. That wounded Soldier had stepped on an IED as well. Leroy said the games and fellow competitors keep him motivated.

A tattoo on his back reveals how he's overcome adversities and now looks at life with a smile. It reads in big letters: "No legs. No regs. No problems."

Tracy J. Smith attended swimming and the other sporting events as a volunteer freelance photographer. She herself is a twice-wounded warrior, in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving in the Georgia Army National Guard, where she is still serving as a staff sergeant. She was in the Marine Corps for 10 years as well, before joining the Guard.

Smith is on a first-name basis with a lot of the athletes and knows their stories well and said she's in awe of their accomplishments, making no mention of her own incredible journey.

She pointed out a blind swimmer. What an amazing story he has, she said. "Can you believe he's competing" she exclaimed. As athletes moved to their starting blocks during the events, she offered them words of encouragement.

That morning, Smith said she was surprised when she opened her tablet to see her online subscription to "Time" magazine, glancing through the July 6, issue. In it was a full-page photo and write-up of Jasmine Perry, a Team Army swimmer at the games. It was a very pleasant surprise, she said, as she's become friends with her.

During the men's 100-meter freestyle event, Matthew Mueller of the Army team placed first with a time of 1:29:49. While fans cheered Mueller on his way to victory, they were on their feet cheering even louder for last-place finisher Army's Sean Johnson, with a distant 3:04:22 time.

Throughout the games, if an athlete was having trouble finishing, he or she got the loudest ovations. "You can feel the love," Smith said, watching them struggle and succeed. "They persevere and people rally. It's such a positive experience. That's what it's all about."

Cirina Catania, an independent filmmaker, was at the games too. She was rooting for Marine swimmer Kionte Storey. He is the subject of a documentary she is making on his life, from his childhood as an orphan in Stockton, California, where he grew up, to his time in the service and his process of recovery.

Storey lost his right leg to an IED in Afghanistan, she said. The games have been a great part in his process of recovery and he's now living in San Diego, where's he's employed as an FBI dispatcher on the night shift. He trains for athletic competitions during the day so he's always busy. She said it's been a joy and a privilege to hear his story and be with him at the games.

Ruthi Moore, a visiting nurse with the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, was also attending the games. Moore started her nursing career in the Army in 1966, serving until 1970. She lives in Virginia but travels throughout the country about three weeks a month, visiting injured, ill or wounded service members recovering in their homes.

With her at the games was Ronnie Jimenez, a swimmer on the Marine team. Moore had been visiting Jimenez at his home in Avondale, Arizona, as part of her visiting nurse work.

Jimenez's recovery is going well and he's doing good competitively at the games, Moore said. He's also fortunate to have the backing of his wife and family. They've been with him throughout.

(Editor's note: Team Army won the Chairman's Cup at the 2015 DOD Warriors Games, winning 162 medals to second-place Marine Corps' 105 medals. The Army took home 69 gold, 52 silver and 41 bronze medals.)

Related Links:

Army News Service

Army.mil: Human Interest News

2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games