Adaptive Sports Inspire Wounded Veteran
(January 14, 2010) |
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John Register, associate director of community and military
programs for the U.S.
Paralympics Committee, speaks at a Pentagon news conference Jan. 7, 2010.
DoD photo by R.D. Ward |
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2010 – Wounded military
members struggle with an endless set of
challenges in overcoming their physical and
mental disabilities. And no one may understand
what it takes to get past those hurdles better
than Army veteran John Register.
Ironically, Register's left leg was amputated in
1994 following an accident in which he jumped
across a hurdle. A member of the Army's World
Class Athlete program, he landed wrong and
dislocated his knee while training for a track
and field event.
Register now directs the U.S. Olympic
Committee's Paralympics military programs
for disabled veterans. He was in the Pentagon
yesterday to help the Defense Department and
U.S. Olympic Committee announce the inaugural
Warrior Games, which will take place May 10-14
in Colorado |
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Springs, Colo. |
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The Gulf War veteran attests that overcoming his disability
was difficult, but the power of sports helped him to
discover a newfound sense of “liberation” through
Paralympics sports and competition. He said he believes the
Warrior Games and adaptive sports rehabilitation can have
the same positive effect on others.
“The inaugural games, the Warrior Games, will be a great
event,” Register said. “But I think that the greatest thing
that's going to come from this is the impact that will
happen after the games are over, the legacies that will be
left in the communities when the people return home to share
their experiences.”
The Paralympics division of the U.S. Olympic Committee has
been working with wounded veterans since 2003 to enhance
their lives through sports. Many military members dealing
with amputations, loss of limb function and even traumatic
brain injury have garnered a second chance at life, using
sports to build confidence and self esteem, said Register, a
two-time Paralympian and silver medalist.
Sports were a very important part of Register's life. He was
a collegiate all-American and a member of the Army's World
Class Athlete Program in track and field. But for a short
time, all of that changed. His six-year Army career ended
along with his Olympic dreams the day he decided to let the
doctors amputate his leg.
“I was faced with a choice: either to keep my limb and use a
walker or wheelchair or some other type of assistive device
to get around for my mobility, or to undertake an
amputation,” he said. “I chose amputation, and when I did
so, my life immediately changed.”
Register began swimming and was fortunate enough to reach
the world-class level again. He competed in the 1996
Paralympics Games, and two years later began running and
competing once again in the long jump. He won his silver
medal in the games in Sydney, Australia.
“Through faith and family and sport -- especially sport, and
Paralympics sport -- I really found the liberation of
freedom, so to speak, as I once enjoyed life as I knew it,”
he said.
As the associate director for community and military
programs for the Paralympics, Register now focuses on
helping other disabled veterans realize their potential. He
said he hopes to help all wounded veterans realize that just
because they're disabled, they're not incapable.
“No matter how we come to our life-defining moments in time,
we have a choice in which we can move forward,” he said. “We
can either choose to settle into our setbacks, or we can
soar forward knowing that we have those support networks and
support groups around us that can help us get to and get
back to those active lifestyles that we once enjoyed before
we were injured.”
Adaptive sports also provide an opportunity for recovered
veterans to give back to newly injured troops. Athletes
often participate in their communities and at veterans
hospitals as mentors and role models, sharing their
experiences and helping those who are less optimistic about
their disabilities.
“Through sports, we begin to carve a new path in their lives
by allowing the servicemember to see their continued value
to society and regain an active lifestyle, whether that's
with their family or friends or their military or civilian
communities,” he said. “Sports really does make a
difference.
“Yes, it was the platform for me,” he continued, “but I can
do anything I want to now, because ... I've found myself
again. And when I've found myself again, I can get back and
engage into life.” | |
By
Army SFC Michael J. Carden
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2010
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