LEADING SEAMAN Christopher Hill

Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 Competitor

ADF service: I Joined the Royal Australian Navy on 2 July 2018 as a Boatswain’s Mate. Since joining, I have participated in a broad range of exercises and operations in surface platforms. I have served at sea in HMA ships Adelaide, Hobart, Stuart, Huon and Larrakia. During my posting on HMAS Larrakia, I was deployed to Operation Resolute in 2019 to conduct the policy of sovereign borders. Following this posting I was posted to Fleet Support Unit at HMAS Kuttabul in 2020-2021, where I assisted in maintaining the capability of surface combatants by conducting routine maintenance tasks, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) demonstrations and I also had the opportunity to assist in filming an update video about the survival equipment used by the Royal Australian Navy. During the COVID pandemic, I volunteered for Operation Covid-19 Assist in 2021 to support Victorian Police in hotel quarantine. During this operation, I was given the opportunity to lead a brick of personnel on the deployment, organising a watch routine so members of the brick would be afforded greater respite, minimising members’ fatigue. Following this I was posted on HMAS Adelaide, where I was fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in the exercises Sea Raider, Sea Trident and Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 as a member of ships’ company. I am posted to Fleet Support Unit due to my medical restrictions.

Other information: My nickname is Hilly or Hillbilly. I am 1 child of 5 to my parents, Kim and Allan Hill. My siblings are Nicole, Brian, Sally and Lauren. I am engaged to my partner, Paige Gilmour, who means the world to me. I have a pet German x Swiss shepherd named Wicket.

Age: 39

Hometown: Newcastle, NSW

Current town: Carlingford, NSW

Competing in: Indoor rowing, snowboarding, and wheelchair basketball.

What is the nature of your injury or illness? I have been diagnosed with PTSD.

Sport background: I have been playing baseball on and off since I was 8-years-old. I have only played for 2 clubs – Mayfield White Sox and Woodberry Wolves. Besides these sports, through school I played basketball, rugby league, soccer, cricket, ice hockey and more. I am also a student of a martial arts known as Hapkido.

What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? Sports have always been an integral part of my life ever since I was a child. I believe the role of sports in my rehabilitation is quite massive in many ways. Sport gives me the opportunity to make connections with people, makes me grow in confidence and purpose and, most importantly, be a part of something that is greater than myself as a member of a team.

How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? I had many emotions and feelings when I made the Invictus Games team. I felt overwhelming pride, excitement, happiness, gratefulness, accomplishment and purpose, which I honestly believe I had lost because of my medical status.

What is your greatest achievement to date? Good question, I have to say I have a few achievements over the years, but the most recent is being promoted to Leading Seaman in 2022.

Why did you apply for Invictus Games? I applied for Invictus Games for a few reasons. Firstly, to be a part of something meaningful and greater than myself. What I mean by that is being an integral member of the Invictus team by assisting others in their rehabilitation as well as my own. Secondly, to have purpose again, because I am unable to serve my country due to my medical condition.

What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? Winning to me isn’t about the medals. It’s about being a member of a team that works as one; to help others with their rehabilitation as well as my own.

Who is supporting you at the Games? All my family and friends are supporting me in general but my partner, Paige, and my mum, Kim, will be at the Games.