The Defense Department announced May 1 the names of the 72 competitors who will compete on the United States team at the Invictus Games in Sydney, Oct. 20-27.
More than 550 wounded, ill and injured service members from 18 allied nations are expected to compete. Competitors will participate in 11 adaptive sports, including archery, athletics, indoor rowing, powerlifting, road cycling, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and a new addition this year, sailing — around the iconic Sydney Harbour.
“Participation in the 2018 Invictus Games helps to shine a light on the amazing power and positivity of adaptive sports and reconditioning activities for our wounded warriors, who continue to inspire us with their strength, resilience and personal courage every day,” said Stephanie Barna, performing the duties of undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. “These brave service members and veterans demonstrate what it means to be professional, dedicated, and determined. We are proud to honor and recognize their remarkable achievements and support them as they continue their personal journeys of recovery and healing.”
The Invictus Games, founded in 2014 by the United Kingdom’s Prince Harry, are based on the United States’ concept of the Warrior Games and are designed to use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation, and generate a wider understanding of, and respect for, those who serve their country and their loved ones.
The team captain and co-captain have not yet been identified.
The following athletes were selected as primaries for the U.S. team:
- Staff Sgt. Ross Alewine, Army
- Retired Gunnery Sgt. John Ayo, Marine Corps
- Retired Cpl. Jose Barron, Marine Corps
- Retired Senior Airman Jamie Biviano, Air Force
- Retired Capt. Steven Bortle, Army
- Marine Corps Master Sgt. Benjamin Brodt, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Army Spc. Vairon Caicedo, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Retired Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Canich, Navy
- Retired Senior Airman Heather Carter, Air Force
- Army Sgt. 1st Class Jarrid Collins, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Sgt. David Crook, Army
- Staff Sgt. James Dunaway, Marine Corps
- Retired Petty Officer 3rd Class Mark Eldridge, Navy
- Retired Chief Petty Officer Joshua Erickson, Navy
- Retired Sgt. Brandi Evans, Army
- Retired Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ferrell, Air Force
- Retired Airman Austin Chance Field, Navy
- Gunnery Sgt. Dorian Gardner, Marine Corps
- Retired Petty Officer 3rd Class Jamie Garza, Navy
- Retired Gunnery Sgt. Doug Godfrey, Marine Corps
- Petty Officer 2nd Class Emmanuel Gonzalez, Navy
- Retired Lance Cpl. Matthew Grashen, Marine Corps
- Retired Sgt. Gabby Graves Wake, Marine Corps
- Retired Staff Sgt. Megan Grudzinski, Army
- Master Sgt. Kenneth Guinn, Air Force
- Retired Master Sgt. Shay Hampton, Air Force
- Army Maj. Lee Harvey, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Retired Seaman Damion Headington, Navy
- Senior Chief Petty Officer Raina Hockenberry, Navy
- Army Capt. Brian Hotchkiss, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Retired Capt. Lawrence Hufford, Air Force
- Petty Officer 2nd Class Mario Ingram, Navy
- Army Sgt. 1st Class Brandt Ireland, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Army Master Sgt. Keith Jackson, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Spc. Stephanie Johnson, Army
- Retired Staff Sgt. Michael Kacer, Army
- Staff Sgt. Altermese Kendrick, Army
- Master Sgt. Linn Knight, Air Force
- Lance Cpl. Kira Lavine, Marine Corps
- Retired Lt. Daniel Lee, Coast Guard
- Retired Staff Sgt. Sebastiana Lopez, Air Force
- Retired Staff Sgt. Ryan Major, Army
- Retired Petty Officer 2nd Class Leroy McCullough, Navy
- Sgt. Ryan McIntosh, Army
- Retired Army Sgt. Maj. Shawn Mello, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Retired Capt. Kristen Morris, U.S. Air Force
- Retired Sgt. Alex Nguyen U.S. Marine Corps
- Army 1st Sgt. Douglas Norman, U.S. Special Operations Command
- 1st Lt. Ryan Novack, Air Force
- Retired Army Master Sgt. Edward O’Neil, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Staff Sgt. Jason Pacheco, Marine Corps
- Gunnery Sgt. Alex Padilla, Marine Corps
- Army Sgt. 1st Class Dawn Page, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Retired 1st Lt. Chris Parks, Army
- Retired Staff Sgt. Tim Payne, Army
- Retired Tech. Sgt. Ryan Pinney, Air Force
- Retired Sgt. Danielle Pothoof, Marine Corps
- Retired Army Master Sgt. Francis Reilly, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Lt. Jason Roberts, Navy
- Retired Staff Sgt. Joel Rodriquez, Army
- Petty Officer 1st Class Tyson Schmidt, Navy
- Master Sgt. Benjamin Seekell, Air Force
- Retired Tech. Sgt. Joshua Smith, Air Force
- Retired Cpl. Michael Sousadecarma, Marine Corps
- Retired Senior Airman Hannah Stolberg, Air Force
- Retired Sgt. Jorge Toledo, Marine Corps
- Maj. Christina Truesdale, Army
- Retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Sualauvi Tuimalealiifano, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Petty Officer 1st Class Carlos Valerio, Navy
- Army Master Sgt. George Vera, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Wakefield, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Master Sgt. Brian Williams, Air Force