These Wounded Servicemen And Women Competing At The Invictus Games Talked About What Inspires Them

"Being involved with others to try and achieve one goal, pretty much like how it was in the military."

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The Invictus Games is the brainchild of Prince Harry, who served in the British Army, and knows the positive impact sport can have on rehabilitation. The games, which have been held in 2014, 2016 and 2017, see wounded servicemen and women compete in a range of sports and promote physical activity as a means towards recovery. The first games attracted 13 nations, while 18 nations will compete at the fourth Invictus Games, in Sydney from October 20-27.

BuzzFeed News met up with competitors from the Australian team.

Jarrod Kent

Served in the army for seven years
Competing in powerlifting, swimming, track and field, shot put and discus

"[I want to] ignite people’s imagination to what is actually possible, so they can find the motivation and be inspired to take their life to the next level. I believe that every single person has been broken at some point in their life in some way, shape or form, whether mentally, physically or emotionally. I believe our job is to empower them and give them the belief that they may be broken but never beaten."

Corporal Sonya Newman

Has been serving in the army for 18 years
Competing in wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing, sitting volleyball and swimming

"My kids are my biggest inspiration, they give me a reason to get out of bed every morning. I have a little nephew as well. He was born very prem and he’s had a lot of challenges in his life like cerebral palsy and he’s also deaf. Watching him get to where he is in life now, he’s lived a lot longer than what was expected. He’s an inspiration to me everyday."

Pilot officer Jesse Costelloe

Has been serving in the air force for four years
Competing in athletics, indoor rowing and swimming

"I take inspiration from random things...there’s the Rocky Balboa trilogy, seeing my fellow athletes just rock their stuff, it’s a bit of everything. It’s life, really."

Able seaman Mark Daniels

Has been serving in the navy for six years
Competing in indoor rowing, swimming, sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugby

"What inspires me is that I always reflected on how bad I was — that depressed, broken man that I was when I first had my accident and lost my leg. I refuse to be that person again. I’m constantly always pushing myself to go bigger and harder at the challenges and goals that I throw myself at."

Alexia Vlahos

Served in the army for four years
Competing in athletics, indoor rowing and powerlifting

"[Playing sports] keeps me going for the fact that it keeps me going. I’m training for the games, and if I didn’t have it I don’t know what to do instead, and I don’t know how I would be. I know that with it, I’m so much better as a person inside and out, physically and mentally."

Rye Shawcroft

Served in the army for 1.5 years
Competing in wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball

"Seeing the guys out on the court today, they’re the ones that really inspire me and keep me going. It’s a whole team effort."

Daniel "Styx" Parker

Served in the army for seven years,
Competing in athletics

"My family inspires me to be a role model, not only for my family and my kids but also for other people in struggles, to inspire them to not rely on medication, that adaptive sports is really a better form of medication, not withdrawing yourself inside that emotional shell ... involving yourself into society and releasing those natural endorphins."

Samual Maraldo

Served in the navy for seven years
Competing in sitting volleyball

"On a day to day basis, having my dog keeps me going because it gives me someone to interact with each day. But when it comes to the sports setting, it’s being involved with others … especially in team sports, being involved with others to try and achieve one goal pretty much like how it was in the military."

Corporal Taryn Barbara

Has been serving in the army for 14 years
Competing in swimming

"The thing that inspires me is to try and be better than the person I was yesterday."

Brendan Hardman

Served in the army for seven years
Competing in wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball

"My own motivation is two-fold: it’s getting my own mental health and my own physical health right, and setting goals and achieving those goals."

Leading seaman Vanessa Broughill

Has served in the army, and is now serving in the navy, for a total of 13 years
Competing in athletics, indoor rowing and swimming

"[I want] to be a better version of myself for my kids and my husband and my family as a whole. I want to be better than yesterday."

Corporal Sarah Petchell

Has been serving in the army for 15 years
Competing in powerlifting, indoor rowing, discus, shot put

"Caffeine gets me up in the morning and keeps me going. But more so, just my family and trying to be the best person I can be. I don’t want to stay the same."