CRAIG THOROGOOD

Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026 
 
ADF Service:  
I joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1996 as a Marine Technician and completed a total of 23 years of service, with a short break in between. 
 
During my career, I served across a wide range of platforms including steamships, amphibious ships, patrol boats and warships. 
 
I undertook several operational tours, deploying three times to the Middle East, as well as to East Timor and Bougainville, and supported disaster relief operations. One of my career highlights was being part of the first Australian naval ship to return to Vietnam after the war, in 1999. As the son of a Vietnam veteran, that deployment was incredibly meaningful for me. We were warmly received and had the opportunity to give back through community work, including volunteering at an orphanage, which remains one of the most impactful experiences of my service. 
 
I was medically retired from the Navy after 23 years of service. 
 
Other Information:  
I am a fifth‑generation Defence Force family member and extremely proud of that legacy. My father, grandfather and great‑grandfather all served, as did my son and daughter’s grandfather on their mother’s side. Today, two of my three children are continuing that tradition. 
 
Age: 52 
 
Hometown: Penrith, New South Wales  
 
Current town: Perth, Western Australia 
 
What is the nature of your injury/ illness? 
I live with post‑mesh insertion neuropraxia resulting in nerve entrapment, as well as post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 
 
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? 
My sporting background before service was limited. I started doing dryland dog sledding to exercise my Siberian Husky, and I loved the feeling of racing. Through this experience, I discovered ‘movement is medicine ', and I now exercise regularly for both physical and mental health.  
 
How have you stayed connected to sport? 
Yoga has become a cornerstone of my rehabilitation. I practise trauma‑informed, trauma‑sensitive “breathing and stretching” sessions three times a week under the guidance of Invictus Games alumna Karney Armstrong. Since committing to regular physical activity, I have lost 25 kilograms, been taken off the diabetes register, significantly reduced my metabolic age, and achieved physical milestones I never thought possible – including holding a two‑minute plank and, for the first time in my life, touching my toes. The mental health benefits have been just as significant. 
I’ll be moving soon, and part of my planning has been researching local clubs I can join. At the moment, pickleball is the frontrunner. 

How did it feel being told you will compete for Team Australia? 
I feel proud to be able to represent Australia and excited to be part of a team of awesome people again.  
 
What will 'winning' look like for you at the Invictus Australia Sports Festival 2026? 
Wearing the green and gold for Australia and standing up there with a bunch of mates, just being awesome – that’s what winning looks like to me. Sharing that moment with them is what matters most.