damien batty

DoD Warrior Games 2024 Team Australia Competitor

ADF service: I served in the Australian Army from 15 January 1996 to 1 December 2021 in Army Health Services. I deployed to Bougainville in 1999, Solomon Islands in 2009, Afghanistan in 2012 and supported Operation COVID-19 Assist in 2021. I served as part of the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in remote Northern Territory and far north Queensland.

Other information: I am now retired, enjoy driving the John Deere tractor and volunteering in the Macleay Valley community where I can. I am married to my wife, Carly, and we have a daughter, Eva (10). I also have three older children, Emma (24), William (20) and Camron (15), who all reside in Adelaide.

Age: 50

Current town: Kempsey, New South Wales

Competing in: Archery, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair rugby

What is the nature of your injury or illness? Multiple lower limb injuries and conditions, chronic lower back pain, significant hearing loss, post-traumatic stress and anxiety, all related to my service.

Sport background: I enjoyed a wide range of sports growing up, including rugby league, union, cricket, surfing, swimming and snowboarding. My greatest sporting moment was representing Australia against New Zealand in the inaugural ANZAC Day test for the Victorian Masters Rugby League. I picked up a try during the low-scoring match. I had to finish active team participation due to my medical conditions, however I was honoured to train the South Sydney Rabbitohs Women’s squad in 2020, followed by the ADF Women’s Rugby League team and the Cronulla Caringbah Sharks for the Sydney Shield.

What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? Adaptive sport plays a vital role in my recovery and rehabilitation. Teamwork connects me with the community. It improves my mental and physical health and motivates me to focus on what I can do, not what I no longer can do.  My wife, Carly, is my swimming coach, so it has also galvanised our relationship through her encouragement and our combined commitment to always striving to improve my performance.

How did you feel when you were told you made the Warrior Games team? I was thrilled and honoured to be selected amongst a team of so many inspirational competitors. 

What is your greatest achievement to date? I’m still alive past 50!

Why did you apply for Warrior Games? I was blessed to be asked by one of my closest mates to support him at Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 in Germany. Being amongst Craig and other competitors inspired me to apply. I was also encouraged by the archery coach to take a positive outlook on opportunities through adaptive sports.

What will “winning” look like for you at the Games? Winning to me is not only getting there to represent our country, but also to achieve my personal best. It’s not about medals, even though I am highly competitive, but to be the best teammate I can be, which is of the highest importance to me.

Who is supporting you at the Games? Carly and Eva will be cheering on from home. My US ‘battle buddy’, Tori, a retired Army nursing officer, will make the trip from Colorado with her sister, Elizabeth, to be honorary Aussies as part of our friends and family contingent.