Erin Brigden
Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 Competitor
ADF service: I joined the Australian Army in October 2014 as a Fitter Armourer and medically discharged in early 2023.
Current occupation: Mum to my two children Phoenix and Mia, two kelpies Diesel and Pearl and wife to husband Ryan.
Age: 29
Home town: Shellharbour, New South Wales
Current town: Brisbane, Queensland
Competing in: Indoor rowing, powerlifting and swimming
What is the nature of your injury or illness? I have a ligament tear and degeneration in my left wrist, Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) in both hands and mental health issues.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? I have always relied on physical activity to manage my mental health. The more I keep at it, the stronger, happier and more confident I felt. It's my safe place, where I feel capable and centered. Amongst all the things I couldn't control, I felt I could always control my approach to exercise.
Sport background: I competed in swimming at high school and tried other sports such as touch footy, rugby league and karate. The last 10 years has been mostly weight training, leisure swimming and horse riding.
What is your greatest achievement to date? My children; Phoenix and Mia.
Why did you apply for Invictus Games? I watched both the 2018 and 2020 Invictus Games and seeing the comradery and strength shown to overcome such adversity was inspiring. Fitness is my go-to for rehabilitation and the Invictus Games are perfectly aligned. I love having a goal to aim for and thought this was a great opportunity to test my potential amidst recovery.
What will success look like for you at the Games? Being selected as part of the team is already a huge success in itself, but winning for me will surpass any expectation and doing the best I can. I cannot wait to cheer on my fellow team members and enjoy the excitement of this opportunity with them.
What does unconquered mean to you? It means unbroken; despite overwhelming adversity, its rebuilding yourself back stronger each time.
