BIO: Laura Reynell
Laura will participate at the Allied Winter Sports Camp in Canada in 2023
No matter what happened to me in service it doesn’t mean that it defines me, or determines what my future holds. Everything I do is to better myself and become a newer, happier, fitter, better version of myself
ADF Service:
I joined the Royal Australia Navy (RAN) in 2016 as an Able Seaman Boatswains Mate, deployed to South East Asia and discharged in 2020.
Age: 28
Hometown: Cleveland, QLD
Current Town: Jervis Bay, NSW
What is the Nature of your injury or illness?
I was deployed in 2017 when I was injured at sea with a 50 cal machine gun. Since my accident, I’ve had roughly 20 surgeries where I’ve had my foot re-broken, fully pinned, ligament transients, joint replacement and a nerve-block done every 8-12 weeks.
Sport background:
Growing up I played competitive soccer, touch football, swimming, sailing, and running.
As an adult I continued playing rep touch football and I started cross-fit. After I had my operations I had to learn how to walk again which took around 3 years between 2017-2020 which caused me to stop sport but I continued to go to cross-fit since then I have competed competitively in cross-fit and touch football, with my greatest sporting moment so far being us winning our state cup grand final in touch football recently.
I currently train at Peak Fitness Huskisson and I play touch football with Basin touch Football and Nowra Bushchooks touch football.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation?
It has given me a sense of belonging along with making amazing friends and family. It is a place where they have seen me at my lowest along with my highs.
I started back at my gym not being able to walk on my own to now being able to compete in competitions with no judgement.
Football has given me a sense of family and being in a team gives you not only that closer bond but you have even more cheerleaders on your team that are just as stoked as you are when you improve something you may have been battling. Football hasn’t made me feel different to others, because even though I have a disability it doesn’t define me and I’m not judged or asked questions, I’m just accepted.
I’ve made amazing friends who support me and look after me in a whole other way.
Why did you apply for the Adaptive Sport Program?
I applied so that I could meet people that have faced extreme challenges and overcome them. Whether that be an injury or something else, there is something about the bond you have with people that too have had to face challenges and overcome them. Also being a veteran is an extra thing in common. I also applied because I wanted to continue to grow as a person and with sport always being my main outlet it was a no brainer to continue putting myself in positive and supportive environments to test myself to see how I do and what else I might have thought I couldn’t do, but now can.
What will “success” look like for you at the Allied Winter Sports Camp?
It will be to not only meet other people on the camp and hopefully make more friends but to put in 100% and continue to test and grow my skills so that I can be an even better person and athlete than before I came.
What is your ultimate goal?
To become successful and happy both professionally and personally.
What does Unconquered mean to you?
No matter what happened to me in service it doesn’t mean that it defines me, or determines what my future holds. Everything I do is to better myself and become a newer, happier, fitter, better version of myself
What is your greatest achievement to date?
My greatest achievement would be how far I have come in my healing and post injury journey. Not only is it my greatest achievement but I am also extremely proud of myself. I am constantly surprising myself with what I can do and I believe this is only the beginning and I cannot wait to see where I am in another 12 months from now.
get to know Laura in 60 secs
- Favourite movie: Anything based on a true story
- Favourite Sport Team: Cowboys Rugby League
- Sports star: Tia-Claire Toomey, Australian weightlifter
- TV show: The Block
- Holiday destination: Italy, Morocco, Spain
- Hobbies: Pottery, Interior design, being with my dogs Layla and Louie.
- Person who has influenced you most: My partner, when I start to doubt myself or my abilities he is always there to cheer me on and remind me how far I have come already.
- Your heroes: Drew Afualo and Ellidy Pullin
- Favourite quote: Life is not about who you once were. It’s about who you are now and who you have the potential to be.
- Where do you see yourself in 10 years: Running a couple of investment properties for holiday accommodation. and doing interior design within these properties.
- What would you do with your last $10: Hot chips on the beach with Josh and our dogs Layla and Louie.
Meet the whole team
TOP MOMENTS OF 2024 | Before we say goodbye to 2024, let’s reflect on some of the standout moments of connection, camaraderie, and sport within the defence community this year.
To start, we are heading back to August, where a team of 22 defence community members came together to form Team Invictus Australia and compete in the Masters Category at the 2024 World Lifesaving Championships. Returning competitor Sean Lawler summed up what made this team special perfectly:
“Watching the connection and camaraderie continue from the battlefield to the beaches is what makes this team unique and so special.”
After a couple of days of competing, it became clear that being involved in Team Invictus Australia meant more than performance. Over the course of the event, the team inspired many veterans and family members, creating connections over their shared experiences in the defence community.
Image credit: Chris O`Brien
@2024lwc
Looking for a way to stay #active and #connected over the Christmas and New Years period?
One of our sporting partners, @parkrunau, will still be running some of their events over the holiday period, including on Christmas and New Year`s Day. Why not head along, join Team Veteran, our inclusive parkrun group, and keep connected within the local community?
To find out if your local parkrun will be holding events on Christmas or New Years Day, head to the link in bio.
Only 50 DAYS TO GO until @invictusgames25 kicks off in Vancouver Whistler!
Team Australia have been busy putting the finishing touches on their training ahead of competition in Canada!
Not long now! Drop the team some words of encouragement in the comments. 💛🖤
@weareinvictusgames
We partner with @sportsadf to deliver Team Australia to the Invictus Games.