Training to reach perfection

By Sgt. William Smith (4th ID)May 10, 2013

Zoom
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Spc. Elizabeth Wasil, swimmer, World Class Athlete Program, practices her wheelchair race events for the Warrior Games May 7, 2013 at Carson Middle School, Fort Carson. Wasil will be competing in hand-cycling, wheelchair racing,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Warm-ups
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Retired Sgt. Sean Karpf (left) and Staff Sgt. Anthony Misuraca, Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Gordon, Georgia, take a few warm up laps May 7, 2013 at Carson Middle School, Fort Carson. Karpf will be competing in swimming an... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
The flying 30
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Retired Spc. Luis Puertas prepares for the Warrior Games by running the flying 30 during track practice May 7, 2013 at Carson Middle School, Fort Carson. Puertas will be competing in swimming and track events. The Warrior Games ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Focus
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Sgt. Alaina Barnes, Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Knox, Kentucky, focuses before she begins to work on her backstroke start at swim practice May 7, 2013 at the Nelson swimming pool, Fort Carson. Barnes will be competing in ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. (May 10, 2013) -- Two hundred men and women, who have overcome the odds to participate in the Warrior Games, trained on Fort Carson and the United States Air Force Academy May 6-10.

Currently serving and retired wounded warriors-- Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines-- gathered in the Colorado Springs area, with the Warrior Games scheduled to begin May 11 with opening ceremonies at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

This year the Army practiced at Fort Carson and USAFA facilities, training for the various events that they will compete in: wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, swimming, archery, shooting, and track and field, the week before the games.

Many members of the team feel that the training that they received earlier this year, and now the week before the games, has been well worth it.

"The training the week before the games helps us begin to visualize what we need to do to win," said Capt. Lacey Hamilton, Warrior Transition Battalion, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Md. "Right now we're focusing on mechanics and remembering what we need to do to be successful. Each member of Team Army deserves to be here, because they are the best."

Others feel that, with the way that they have prepared, they will reach new heights.

"This is the year that Army is going to win it all," said Sgt. Chad Mcduffee, veteran, Warrior Games. "I have felt that way since the first (training) camp I went to. Just getting to know the other athletes; how hard we have worked. How everything has come together; I don't think there is a way that we won't win the cup this year."

The Warrior Games will run from May 11-16.

During the games, 50 competitors from each of the military branches will face one another, testing both individual and team skills in events.

The members of the team would like people to become more aware of the Warrior Games.

"Come out and watch," said Sgt. Ryan McIntosh, WTB, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. "Spread the story, so that if people know somebody that is wounded, ill or injured; these (Warrior Games) are out there if you are military. They can get back to being active and physical with their lifestyle, so they can (learn) that they can overcome obstacles they didn't know they could."

To find out the schedule of events, visit the official page at: http://www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics/Military/Warrior-Games-presented-by-Deloitte/Competition-Schedules.aspx