“Adaptive Sports made me better than I ever was.” ~ Sgt. Lydia Figary, Team U.S.

VANCOUVER, BC. - “I’ve been an adrenaline junkie all my life, so the thought of jumping out of airplanes was always awesome to me. I've never had any accidents growing up, and so after my accident in July of 2022, it gave me a new perspective. That night definitely changed my life,” said retired Marine Corps Sgt. Lydia Figary.

Figary is getting the adrenaline rush of her life as she is on Team U.S. competing in the Winter Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada, Feb 8-16th. The twenty-seven-year-old parachute rigger recalled how she had completed freefall school the summer before that fateful night and was in what she called a freak accident on a night jump. She ended up with a traumatic brain injury as well as a severe leg injury, which would require four surgeries. She recovered with adaptive sports.

“The first year after my accident, I cried a lot and would say I'm just not who I used to be. It was so frustrating. Then, in a recovery program with the Marines, I found adaptive sports and realized that maybe I’m not who I used to be. Still, adaptive sports made me better than I ever was,” said Figary, who competed in Warrior Games on Team Marines last June in Orlando, Florida, where she won gold in swimming, setting a personal record.

The importance of adaptive sports and competitions like Warrior Games and Invictus is part of a drum Figary continues to beat, explaining that it’s a comprehensive way to recover for so many who are different but have a common bond. “When you surround yourself with people that have been through similar injuries or illnesses, it really does just motivate you to pick each other up and push forward and don't give up; I know it sounds easy to say, but I wouldn't be where I am today without this,” said Figary.

“I've met the most amazing people who have uplifted me. And so many have gone through way more than I could ever imagine, but they're doing it. They're out here crushing it, so it just motivated me to be out here and give it everything I have. It’s relearning your body, relearning and how to push yourself to be better,” said Figary who just won silver in women’s snowboarding at the Winter Invictus games.

Lydia Figary says having a cheering section in person or electronically helps the athletes do better and hopes those reading this will get on board. “I think we must get the word out about Winter Invictus because some of these athletes might not have family or friends that can make it, so having support from our country means so much! I'm blessed my mom and dad will be there supporting me, but I know my friends and family have said, "Hey, I want to watch you."

Still in awe of the competitive company she is keeping, Figary has to pinch herself to make sure this entire journey is real. “I never would've imagined that as much as my injury was so incredibly terrible, here I am, meeting the most amazing people and having these experiences; I am so blessed.”