Residents of Cold Lake turned up in full force to support Canada's wounded warriors as they prepare for the 2017 Invictus Games.
From Sept. 23 to 30, 550 injured or sick military personnel from 17 different countries will gather in Toronto for the games.
On Friday, Aug. 25, 4 Wing personnel, local dignitaries and residents alike celebrated the spirit of the games at the J.J. Parr Centre. The stop was one of many on the 2017 Invictus Games National Flag Tour.
The Latin word Invictus translates to unconquerable. Each and every competitor in the games had to overcome unique challenges to get where they were. No matter what life throws at them, they're ready to persevere.
“I hear stories every day from these competitors, for a lot of them, just making it to the starting line is a victory,” noted Steve Wallace, 2017 Invictus Games chief marketing officer. “It's all about telling these unconquered stories and inspiring everybody to fight and overcome their own demons.”
One of the competitors gearing up for the games is Cold Lake athlete Pte. Martine Duval. When the events kick off, she'll be competing on the greens, looking to take home first place in golf.
The road to the games was a tumultuous one for Duval. After joining the military in 2010, she suffered a severe injury, limiting her ability to utilize her lower body.
“During an exercise I fell down and broke everything in both of my knees. Doctors operated and fixed everything they could, but they're still going to have to replace both of them,” explained Duval.
Not one to give up, she tried to push through her injuries despite the pain. The eventual realization that she wouldn't be able to perform in the same way anymore took its toll on Duval.
Frustrated with not being able to keep up, she isolated herself for three years.
“I was in a corner for almost three years because I felt I wasn't able to do anything a good soldier could. A good soldier can run fast and give it their all, and I tried for so many years. Even after I was injured I tried running on it, but I couldn't,” Duval.
Shortly after the initial injury, she suffered a minor stroke, which meant it was unsafe for her to be left alone for long periods of time. Because of this, Duval started to tag along when her husband went golfing.
“My husband would bring me to the golf course because it wasn't safe to leave me at home, now I'm beating him,” she laughed.
While browsing through Canadian Armed Forces support site ‘Soldier On' in 2016, Duval noticed the Invictus Games were looking for athletes for 2017.
Upon being accepted to participate, Duval's determination shone through again. As soon as she got the call in the winter of 2016, it was time to start training.
“At the beginning, my first thought was ‘okay, I have to train now. I know my bottom half doesn't work that well, so I have to train my upper body,” Duval recalled.
As the event drew closer, Duval began to gain a better understanding of just how big the Invictus Games were. It was during their first stop in Victoria B.C. on Aug. 16 that Duval first fully embraced the spirit of the event.
“You see some competitors with one leg or one arm, and others struggling with PTSD or other illnesses. Seeing injured personnel stick together and make it happen is what these Invictus Games are all about. It's so beautiful to see; really I'm just a little dot in the bigger picture,” she said.
As for the competition, Duval says the results don't matter. Whether she finishes atop the leader board, or in last place, Duval is proud of her progress.
She plans to approach her golf game the same way she approaches her military career, by giving it her all.
“I'm going to go and give 300 per cent, I'm really going to give it everything I have. Even if I don't win, I'll be first place in my heart because I'll know I have given it all I've got. I know I'll be coming back to 4 Wing Cold Lake with my head held high.”
