Proud to be back in uniform

When Tricia Reynolds brazenly said she only signed up for the team’s tracksuit for the Warrior Games, she was joking.

SUBTITLES: Warrior Games 2024 competitor Tricia Reynolds at the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT. Story by Flying Officer Tina Langridge. Photo by Flight Sergeant Ricky Fuller.

The uniform symbolizes everything she misses from her former life in the Air Force: representing her country, being part of a team, the camaraderie among colleagues. That’s why she feels so proud when she thinks about wearing the green and gold.

Barring a chronic hip injury that resulted in a total hip replacement at the age of 39 and a medical discharge in March 2020, Ms. Reynolds admits she would still be in service today – probably as a military working dog handler, which she does most of the time. part did. of her career.

She would also likely still be active in the Muay Thai kickboxing world, a sport she discovered after playing basketball and lacrosse as a child.

“Unfortunately, kickboxing and a bad hip don’t go well together, so I had to find something else,” Reynolds said.

“I found archery after I couldn’t do any of the high-intensity sports I wanted to do, and now that I’ve found it, it’s my passion.

“I bought my compound bow with the specific aim of representing Australia at the Invictus or Warrior Games.

“When I’m at the range and focused on what I have to do, I forget about the pain and anything that could distract me.

“The sport gives me a sense of belonging from an archery community perspective, but because I’m very competitive, the fact that I can practice on my own and still compete against myself – trying to improve my scores, trying to be better every time – resonates strongly with me.

SUBTITLES: Team Australia’s Tricia Reynolds (right) competes in the archery event at the 2024 Warrior Games. Nigel Coutts (centre) and Luke Manhire are also competing. Photo by Flight Sergeant Christopher Dickson.

“At Warrior (Games) I won’t focus so much on the competition, but on competing against myself.”

While in Florida for the Games, Canberra-based Ms Reynolds is also competing in precision shooting and wheelchair basketball, the adapted wheelchair version of the sport she played as a child and during her military service.

She has support from her husband, mother Raelene, and her friends Ashley and Kerrie from Alabama, who all understand the importance of her selection for Team Australia.

“It’s great to travel abroad to represent your country. They have seen the improvement in my mental health since the selection camp and have commented on how much happier and more active I am. They are so excited,” Ms Reynolds said.

“For me, I am excited to be part of a big team again. I can’t wait to see everyone compete and do their best, without judgement from anyone, just full support.

“The people I have met so far on this journey are just some of the most amazing people. I really appreciate what I have when I look at what others have gone through in their lives.

“If I had to sum up this entire experience in one word, it would be gratitude.”

The 2024 Warrior Games run until June 30 and bring together hundreds of wounded, injured and under-serving and former serving military members from Australia and across the US to compete in a range of adaptive sports.

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