At one time, Trevor Vautour wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to walk.
Now, the former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) master corporal is training at CFB Esquimalt to compete in rowing, team rugby and team basketball at the 2019 Warrior Games in Tampa Bay, Fla. this June.
The games are designed to enhance the physical and mental healing of injured or ill veterans or active military service members from around the world.
Hosted by the U.S. Department of Defense, this is only the second year Canada is participating, joining approximately 300 other soldiers to compete head to head in 14 sports including archery, cycling, time-trial cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and 铿乪ld, wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing, power lifting, golf, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby.
This week, from March 25-29, the 40-athlete Canadian team, comprised of current and former CAF members from across Canada, are training at CFB Esquimalt.
It took two years for Vautour to heal physically from the accumulative back injuries and gunshot wounds that had ended his military career serving in special operations.
But the emotional healing took longer, and moving away from his CAF family made it even more difficult.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 why Vautour jumped at the opportunity to become part of Team Canada.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 motivated me to get competitive and just to get out of the house again,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪omething that, prior to this, was a big issue for me.B次元官网网址�
VautourB次元官网网址檚 internal B次元官网网址渇ireB次元官网网址� was damaged after the end of his military career. He said joining the team is reigniting that fire for him.
B次元官网网址淚 hope to put this not only [towards] my perseverance for the physical side but also for getting out there into the jobs field and being active in a different capacity,B次元官网网址� he said.
| Trevor Vautour has been on a long and ongoing journey of healing for physical and mental injuries he sustained while a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. He says joining Team Canada and training for the 2019 Warrior Games has been an incredible bonding and healing experience for himself and other athletes. (Nina Grossman/B次元官网网址 Staff) |
But Vautour said most of the healing comes from the community of athletes, and if you didnB次元官网网址檛 know, you might think the rowers, power lifters and shooters training at CFB Esquimalt had been friends for years.
But they only met this week.
B次元官网网址淲e all understand what it is weB次元官网网址檝e gone through. The injuries we have, some of them you can visually seeB次元官网网址ome of them you canB次元官网网址檛. Everyone gets that,B次元官网网址� Vautour said, adding that within 24 hours of meeting there was laughing and joking amongst the athletes.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e created and established a family here.B次元官网网址�
Daryl Sagar, a former CAF medic whoB次元官网网址檚 training for the shooting competition, said meeting the other athletes was like B次元官网网址渃oming back home.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e with people that understand. You donB次元官网网址檛 have to explain yourself, you can let your guard down, you can be safe,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e always walk around with this bubble around us to protect us, because people donB次元官网网址檛 really understandB次元官网网址tB次元官网网址檚 like coming back to a family that IB次元官网网址檝e missed and havenB次元官网网址檛 been around for years.B次元官网网址�
CAF member Laura Livesey took a break from practising pistol shooting to say sheB次元官网网址檚 excited for whatB次元官网网址檚 to come in Tampa Bay.
B次元官网网址淚 like the idea that itB次元官网网址檚 not about winning medals, itB次元官网网址檚 about doing our best and I think we can say that that is what Canada is all about.B次元官网网址�
| Laura Livesey shoots a pistol at the Team Canada training camp for the upcoming 2019 Warrior Games in Florida. (Nina Grossman/B次元官网网址 Staff) |
nina.grossman@blackpress.ca
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