jamie ADAM smyth
DoD Warrior Games 2024 Team Australia Competitor
ADF service: I joined the Army as part of the Royal Australian Artillery in April 2012 and became a Missile Number. I was posted to Woodside Barracks in Adelaide Hills before medically discharging in November 2016.
Other information: After leaving the Army I went back into a sales role where I still am today, working for a large home builder in north Adelaide. I am a father of two boys, Arlo and Cruz, and have been married to Tarsha since 2017.
Age: 34
Hometown: Adelaide, South Australia
Current town: Adelaide, South Australia
Competing in: Wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and seated shot put
What is the nature of your injury or illness? I suffered an injury to my knee during a training incident which resulted in mental health issues.
Sport background: I grew up playing AFL, NRL, soccer, baseball and golf. Before enlisting in the Army, I was considering trying to pursue a career in golf.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? Following my injury, I had to put a stop to the sports I loved. It wasn’t until I joined the University of South Australia Invictus Pathways Program in 2021 that I got back into sport and was introduced to wheelchair AFL. It’s given me sport back, a competitive edge and a social group.
How did you feel when you were told you made the Warrior Games team? Over the moon! I applied for Warrior Games in 2021 and was unsuccessful, so since then it’s been my goal to reach Warrior Games and Invictus Games. I feel a huge sense of achievement.
What is your greatest achievement to date? Firstly, my wife and kids. They’ve been huge supporters of me and given me the push.
My most recent personal achievement was at the 2023 Wheelchair AFL National Championship, where I was awarded South Australia’s Most Valuable Player and was named in the Australian Team.
Why did you apply for Warrior Games? A new goal to aim for and to challenge myself.
What will “winning” look like for you at the Games? Being selected for the Australian team is winning, but being able to share the moment with the rest of the team is going to be special.
Who is supporting you at the Games? I’m hoping to get my wife and kids across to support me. They missed out on coming to Melbourne for the Wheelchair AFL National Championship, so fingers crossed we can make it happen. If not, I’m sure the family and my friends back home will get together and stream it.
