doug griffiths
Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 Competitor
ADF service: I joined in 1988 as a Sailor in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve before joining the regular Navy as a Seaman Officer in 1989 and graduating from ADFA in 1991. My early career was spent at sea as an Officer of the Watch on a variety of ships. I qualified as a Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer in 1995 and served in clearance diving roles, including Australian Clearance Diving Team One, Australian and UK Mine Hunters, and staff positions (including Sea Command, Task Group and Task Force Command postings). Other postings include Executive Officer Australian Defence Force Academy, Assistant Defence Advisor Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Defence Attaché Amman, Jordan with accreditations to Beirut, Cairo and Doha. Operational deployments include Operation Dirk (Southern Ocean 1997), Operation Slipper (Northern Arabian Gulf 2001/2 and Afghanistan 2009), Operation Catalyst (Iraq 2006), Operation Render Safe (Solomon Islands 2013) and Operation Highroad (Afghanistan 2016).
Other information: I just finished up as a Naval Officer - Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer. My nickname is Dougie and I have been married to my wife, Emma, who is also a serving Naval Officer, for 32 years. Our son, Josh, is also a serving Naval Officer.
Age: 54
Hometown: I can’t lay claim to having a hometown as I was a RAAF brat and moved constantly as a child and continued that when I joined the Australian Defence Force.
Current town: Canberra, ACT
Competing in: Indoor rowing, nordic skiing, sitting volleyball, and swimming.
What is the nature of your injury or illness? In February 2023, I was diagnosed with Stage IV lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, a very rare non-hodgkin lymphoma variant. Complicating my cancer, I have AL amyloidosis which has been generated by the lymphoma. Neither condition is curable. I have gone through 8 months of chemo, 6 weeks in hospital, 8 blood transfusions and 2 surgeries. I am not in remission, and I know I will get sick again and require further treatment.
Sport background: I have been actively involved in triathlon since 1986. I have completed 14 ironman distance races and been privileged to represent Australia at the World Age Group Long Course Triathlon World Championships in Sweden (2004) and Denmark (2005). I was fortunate to compete at the Department of Defence (DOD) Warrior Games with the ADF Adaptive Sports team in Orlando in 2024.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? Sport offers me the opportunity to regain some normality in my life. Cancer has turned my life upside down. My cancer journey is far from over - it is not going away - but being able to use sport to build up my confidence, build my fitness to combat the cancer and help my mental health has been transformational. I will never again be as fast or as fit as I once was, and that’s OK. Everything I achieve now will be a post-cancer personal best and sport gives me the motivation to get up and keep going when life seems to be at its lowest and darkest.
How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? It was emotional. I thought my illness would never allow me to participate as part of a team such as this again. It is very humbling to even be considered. I am full of pride at the honour and I do not underestimate the enormity of this privilege.
What is your greatest achievement to date? Being a dad and contributing to raising such an amazing son.
Why did you apply for Invictus Games? Although I have an incurable, terminal cancer, I am not ready to give up. I am not ready to let cancer define who I am and I am not going to let cancer win. I am a fighter and I intend to fight to the end. I might be broken, but I am not beaten. Being part of the Invictus Games team also gives me the opportunity to be part of an amazing team of service personnel, both ADF and veterans. The power of the team for me is so important. Since being diagnosed I have missed the camaraderie, mateship and support that being part of the ADF has always offered me during my 35-year career. This team offers the opportunity to remain part of the team and support and celebrate my teammates and their journeys.
What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? I have already won. Team selection was a win. If I remain healthy enough to get to Vancouver that will be a second win. Every day I have extra is a win and I no longer take any moment or opportunity for granted.
Who is supporting you at the Games? My amazing wife, Emma, and my son, Josh, will be travelling to Canada to support me and I know I will have many people following from afar. Importantly, I know I will have the support of my teammates as we take on this challenge together.
