DANE GREENSTREET

Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 Competitor

ADF service: I enlisted in the Australian Army as a Marine Specialist in March 2000 as a 17-year-old. While serving I had numerous postings around Australia, including Townsville, Sydney, Canungra, Darwin and Canberra. I deployed to many different locations, including the Solomon Islands, East Timor and the Middle East to name a few. A major highlight of my career was spending about 6 months in the United Kingdom on exchange. I was medically discharged in November 2016.

Other information: Since discharging I have taken the role of stay-at-home dad for my 2 boys, Taj (12) and Hamish (10). I live with my wife and kids near Bunbury in WA’s southwest, where we are currently renovating our home.

Age: 42

Hometown: Dorrigo, NSW

Current town: Bunbury, WA

Competing in: Skeleton, snowboarding, swimming, and wheelchair rugby.

What is the nature of your injury or illness? I was medically discharged due to PTSD, major depressive disorder and anxiety. I also have lower back and lower limb injuries.

Sport background: Growing up I played any sport available, however my passions were cricket, swimming, rugby league and union. I was a competitive swimmer up until 1999 when I left school. I have used swimming for fitness fairly consistently through my life and recently completed the Bussleton Jetty open ocean swim. I also played cricket during my junior years for Dorrigo, and I have recently pulled the pads back on and now play for the Leschenault Green Caps. Sadly, my rugby league and union careers have ended but, at the ripe old age of 42, I have taken up Aussie rules and now play for the mighty Leschenault Crabs masters Aussie rules team. Since discharging I have participated in 2 Big Battlefield Bike Rides, which is a cycling tour through the battlefields of northern France while supporting and fundraising for wounded, injured and ill veterans. I was also fortunate in 2023 to be selected to attend a 10-day snowboarding camp in Colorado with the Invictus Games Foundation, where I was able to learn how to snowboard with some amazing coaches and have an amazing snow experience. My greatest sporting moment would be during this event were I able to compete on a slalom course only 9 days after my first go at snowboarding without falling over. 

What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? Sport and exercise have been crucial to my rehabilitation and I have always attempted to maintain some involvement in an exercise program or, now, sports teams. I have found sport to be the most effective way to maintain a positive headspace and to keep myself on the right track. 

How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? I was absolutely pumped! I have been following the Invictus Games since the Orlando Games in 2016 and set myself the goal of one day competing, so to realise that dream will certainly be a massive highlight of my post-military life. 

What is your greatest achievement to date? My family and the life we have built. After discharge I had many dark periods, but we now have that behind us and we have managed to stay as a family unit. We have a lot of fun and good times together - they’re everything to me.

Why did you apply for Invictus Games? I applied for the Invictus Games as I feel I’m towards the end of my rehabilitation journey. Like many others when I was medically discharged, I still felt I had a lot to give and was unable to go out on my terms. The Games will give me the opportunity to walk away from the Defence environment with my head held high and I will be able to get closure from my 16-year Army career, which is something I thought I would never have the opportunity to do.

What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? Winning will be standing on the swimming blocks with my wife and boys cheering me on, knowing I have done all it takes to get that far. 

Who is supporting you at the Games? I hope to have my wife and boys with me in Canada cheering me on. Back home will be my parents, my brother and my best mate, all no doubt screaming at the TV, willing me on.