Military athletes go for Gold on the sports “battlefield”
Sports in the DOD
From local competitions to the world stage, military athletes bring the same physical prowess, dedication and spirit of excellence to playing fields that they do the battlefield, and continue to influence the rich history of America’s sporting life.
190625-D-DB155-002 Archers begin the final rounds of archery in the compound bow division during the 2019 DoD Warrior Games in Tampa, Florida June 25, 2019. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom) U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Kreed Gentz, a main battle tank technician with 1st Tank Battalion and boxer with the 1st Marine Division (MARDIV) boxing team, is declared the winner of the third bout against British Royal Marine (RM) 1st Class Aiden Thompson in a boxing competition at Commando Training Centre for the Royal Marines Lympstone, England, May 3, 2018. The 1st MARDIV boxing team and RMs were scheduled to compete in a friendly boxing exposition to strengthen the bond of both counterparts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Megan E. Brown) U.S. Naval Academy midshipmen run onto Lincoln Financial Field prior to the Army-Navy football game, Dec. 14, 2019, in Philadelphia, Pa. This year marks the 120th game between the military academies. Air Force 2nd Lt. Morgan Mavroudis of the U.S. Armed Forces Women’s Soccer attempts to score a goal during a preliminary game with Germany in the 2019 CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, China Oct. 17, 2019. The Council of International Sports for the Military games open Oct. 18, 2019 and close Oct. 28, 2019. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom) U.S. Air Force Academy — Air Force’s La’Akea Aiu competes in the 60m hurdles during the Air Force Invitational at the Cadet Field House in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Jan. 22, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo/Trevor Cokley) U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Michelle Spires, United States Armed Forces Military World Games Track and Field High Jump competitor, clears a jump during the Conseil International du Sport Militaire Track and Field Competition in Wuhan China, Oct. 23, 2019.The 7th MWG will feature military athletes from around the world with an estimated participation of more than 100 nations and more than 10,000 participants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sergeant James R. Crow) Army Sgt. Chris McGinnis and his 17-month-old son Ace celebrate Army’s gold medal in wheelchair basketball, the final event of the 2018 DoD Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs on June 9, 2018. The Warrior Games are an annual event, established in 2010, to introduce wounded, ill and injured service members to adaptive sports as a way to enhance their recovery and rehabilitation. (DoD Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg)
By Jim Garamone. SecDef Austin spoke via Zoom to 15 service members on the teams. Some were in Tokyo, others in the United States.
”I wanted to just reach out to you and congratulate all of you for the tremendous work that you’ve done to get to where you are,” Austin said. ”It is truly remarkable, it is truly a big deal, and I wanted you to know that we’re enormously proud of each and every one of you.”
Austin told the team members that he appreciated the hard work they put in to not only be outstanding service members, but elite athletes representing the United States on the world stage.
He spoke with Army 1st Lt. Amber English who received the Gold Medal in Women’s Skeet competition. She set the Olympic record with her performance.
Austin asked her if she knew she would do so well. ”I knew when I got here that if I … just allowed myself to do what I know how to do, and stay as calm as possible and focus, that it would be a successful outcome,” she said.
He asked if she had any advice for her fellow service members at the games. ”I would just say to enjoy the ride,” the young lieutenant said.
Austin also spoke with Army Sgt. 1st Class Elizabeth ”Ellie” Marks, a Paralympian swimmer. Marks has competed in a number of competitions including the Invictus Games, where she met Britain’s Prince Harry. ”I had no idea who he was,” she told the secretary. ”I just thought he was a spectator of the sport. But he has become a champion.”
Marks will begin competition soon and is watching the Olympics with interest. ”I feel incredibly inspired by the performance of my teammates, and they are doing wonderful things with the Olympics,” she said. ”I hope that I can do them proud at the Paralympics.”
Austin told Marks that she is already making Americans proud. ”All of you are making us proud,” he told the service members.