Indoor rowers rise to the occasion at Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023
Team Australia’s indoor rowers produced a masterclass in the healing power of sport on day three of competition at the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023.
The measure of success was different for each of the 13 competitors – some won medals while others produced personal bests. For all the competitors, making it to the start was the ultimate achievement.
Danielle Hale competes in the indoor rowing at Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023.
The Australian team was represented by indoor rowing team captain, Shaun Hillman, Craig Ball, Michael, Adam Slot, Karl Woodward, Francine Dudfield, Danielle Hale and Alex Jay, as well as medallists Andrew Tebbit, Erin Brigden and Able Seaman Taryn Dickens who claimed gold in their respective classes across the Individual Endurance and Sprint events. Brooke Mead finished with a silver medal and Laura Reynell tied for Bronze. Tebbit also added a silver medal to his collection.
The competitor’s families and friends were the first to embrace their loved ones and Tebbit had support from near and far, with his wife and son watching-on in the Arena, and his daughter cheering him on from home.
Andrew Tebbit at the indoor rowing at Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023.
“My daughter sent me messages, she was just as nervous as I was, just watching it,” Tebbit said.
The support for the team has known no boundaries. “Everyone’s just so stoked. I’ve been copping messages from friends from the last (Invictus) Games,” Tebbit said.
The medals Tebbit won were his first in indoor rowing and his first Invictus Games gold, but the improvements to his quality of life and the positive changes he has seen in his family are what matters most.
“With my mood improving, my attitude improving, they’ve improved, their lives improved… their quality of life. It’s been awesome.”
When it came to the competition, Tebbit executed his race plan like a tactician.
“I had a certain split I wanted to stick to and I stayed there,” he said.
“We had a British bloke that really went out hard and he was well ahead, but I didn’t want to be drawn into his race. I stuck to my plan and he fatigued quickly near the end. In the last two minutes I went past and never looked back, just kept going,” he said.
Andrew Tebbit executes his race plan in the indoor rowing at Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023.
Fellow medallist Erin Brigden has found family though her Invictus journey.
“The girls I have met, Alex, Laura and Dani… they’re more like sisters, they’re not just friends you meet every once in a while.”
By virtue of their results in the heats, the Aussie women lined up side by side for the final.
Team Australia competitors line up side by side in the indoor rowing at at Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023.
Erin Brigden embraces Laura Reynell in the indoor rowing at at Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023.
“That was the best outcome, that we can be together,” Brigden said.
“I think we all pushed each other. It gave encouragement, it was familiar because we train together. It meant everything to have the girls with me,” she said.
Brigden is living proof of the healing power of sport.
“If I was antsy or nervous, I would go to the gym. Usually the days where I was having the worst mental health days I would have the best sessions in the gym,” she said.
“It was all about getting in and keeping going. It kept routine for me when I left defence. It kept a shred of normalcy in my life. You’ve got all these injuries and there’s some things you can’t do, but if you can push yourself and succeed in others it’s an incredible feeling.”
“I feel I’m the fittest I’ve ever been in my life, even before my injuries. My rowing and bench press PBs, this is all stuff I haven’t done in my life. Sport is massive for me,” Brigden said.
Erin Brigden competes at the indoor rowing at Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023.
Also on Tuesday, Team Australia’s campaign got underway in the wheelchair basketball as they faced Team Unconquered and Canada in their pool matches.
Team Unconquered was created so that nations of all sizes could combine and get the chance to compete in team sports at the Games. There are two wheelchair basketball outfits in this year’s competition.
Making the charge for Team Australia in the wheelchair basketball is Mark Armstrong, James Barker, Able Seaman Boatswains Mate Cooper Blackwood, Justin Donnelly, Xavier Green, Danielle Hale, Ainsley Hooker, Kurt Ludke, Lenny Redrose, Adam Slot, Colleen Swifte and Steve Richards.
Xavier Green and Team Invictus Australia compete against Canada at the wheelchair basketball at Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023.
Pool matches continue on Wednesday with the Aussies returning to the court with one win and loss under their belts. The team going down 4-8 to Team Unconquered and triumphing against Canada, 14-4.
The Invictus Games is an international, adaptive multi-sports competition for serving and former military personnel who have been wounded, injured or become ill during their military service. Team Australia is delivered in partnership between Invictus Australia and the Australian Defence Force, and consists of 31 competitors.
Düsseldorf is the sixth city to host the Invictus Games, following The Hague in 2022, Sydney in 2018, Toronto in 2017, Orlando in 2016 and London in 2014.
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WHERE TO WATCH
From Saturday, 9 September, all competitions of INVICTUS GAMES DÜSSELDORF 2023 presented by Boeing as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies can be streamed for free and without login on the German website (https://invictusgames23.de) and YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@invictusgamesdusseldorf2023).
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About Invictus Australia: Invictus Australia encourages veterans and their families to connect and engage with their communities through sport. Whether participating or volunteering at grassroots level, to competing internationally at an Invictus or Warrior Games, Invictus Australia leverages the power of sport to proactively foster good health and aid in recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration. Invictus Australia promotes the physical, social and emotional benefits of sport for all, and shine a light on the unique needs of younger veterans, particularly the challenges associated with transitioning from military to civilian life.
About the Invictus Games: The 2023 Invictus Games takes place from the 9th – 16th September in Dusseldorf, Germany. Invictus Australia, in partnership with the Australian Defence Force, are supporting 31 former and current serving competitors as part of Team Australia. The Invictus Games is an international adaptive sporting event for serving and former serving military personnel who have been wounded, injured or become ill during their military service. Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, is the Patron of the Invictus Games. The Games uses the healing power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and celebrate the crucial role played by family and friends.
