Joel Vanderzwan

Joel
Vanderzwan

Navy Veteran & Invictus Games competitor/ coach
Sydney, NSW

overview

In 2007 at the age of 17, Joel joined the Royal Australian Navy. As an Able Seaman Marine Technician, Joel spent a lot of time off Darwin on border patrol, his career highlight being his work on HMAS Kanimbla during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise off the coast of Hawaii in 2010. With fond memories of driving around Hawaii and discovering amazing surfing spots at Honolulu Bay, Joel’s military career was not only professionally rewarding but provided him with camaraderie, mateship and incredible life experiences.

challenge

In 2012, life for Joel suddenly changed when he was involved in a motorcycle accident resulting in T6 complete paraplegia. Joel spent 11 months in rehabilitation and used his competitive spirit to regain life skills while going through rehab.

“Sport for rehabilitation is integral not only for your physical health but for your mental wellbeing. Sport has been a big part of my life, so after my injury, it made sense to adapt and use sporting goals to help achieve rehabilitation goals. Sport is the foundation on which many of us rebuild our purpose in life after injury.”

Joel Vanderzwan
Veteran and Invictus Games competitor

journey

Sport for rehabilitation has been integral for Joel’s physical health and mental wellbeing. A big part of his life before the injury, it made sense for Joel to use sporting goals to help him achieve his rehabilitation goals.

He applied for the Adaptive Sport Program to help his recovery journey and to “test [him]self and set an example that rehabilitation and reintegration into society never stops.”

Joel was selected for the Invictus Games The Hague 2022, where he competed in archery, indoor rowing, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.

Joel Vanderzwan rowing at the Invictus Games The Hague 2020

TODAY

While preparing for and competing at the Games, Joel quickly realised the unique nature of events such as these. Less focused on athletic performance, he discovered that these competitions are a celebration of how far wounded, injured and ill veterans have come and how they can continue to use sport to aid in their recovery journey.

Inspired by the positive and rewarding experience he had, Joel decided to make himself available as a coach for future Adaptive Sport Program events. Joining the wheelchair sports coaching contingent for the DoD Warrior Games, for Joel, it is all about being able to give others the same opportunity he was given during his recovery journey.

“We get so much from this program… If people aren’t giving back, it can’t continue, which means people don’t have the experience I’ve had.”