Laura Reynell

DoD Warrior Games 2024 Team Australia Competitor

ADF service: I joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Boatswain’s Mate. During my service I deployed to South East Asia twice and around Australia. I was medically discharged in 2020.

Other information: I am studying and renovating while also hanging out with my two dogs (best friends), Layla and Louie, at the beach.

Age: 29

Hometown: Cleveland, Brisbane, Queensland

Current town: Jervis Bay, South Coast, New South Wales

Competing in: Athletics, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby

What is the nature of your injury or illness? During my deployment in 2017 I was badly injured by a machine gun. This resulted in countless surgeries, twice learning to walk again, having my foot fully pinned and 12 months later having a joint replacement on that same foot. I still suffer from intense nerve damage in my leg and lower back, along with not being able to feel my right foot at all.
I am waiting to have my next surgery where all the above is going to be removed and replaced with a new plate and screwed together. I will need to learn to walk again. This surgery is aiming to reduce the nerve damage and pain, however there is only a 30 per cent chance of it working and, if it doesn’t, I am looking at amputation.

Sport background: Growing up I played competitive soccer, touch football, swimming and athletics. Before my accident I was playing local and representative touch football. I had also just started CrossFit. It took around three years after my accident before I could start going to CrossFit again. Since then, I have played touch football again and even made representative teams along with doing local CrossFit competitions with friends for fun.

What role has sport played in your rehabilitation?
Sport has always been my biggest outlet, so losing that to the point where I couldn't get out of bed, have a shower or just do basic everyday tasks without assistance, put me in a pretty dark place. Once I started the journey of learning to walk and getting my independence back, I began looking at local gyms to join, even if it meant I could only go for 20 minutes at the start. This helped with my mood, my confidence, my strength, balance and, overall, me being able to prove to myself that I am stronger than I think I am.

To say sport has played an integral part of my rehabilitation would be an understatement but, if there’s any advice I could give other people, it is to make sure you find "your people". I’m not sure if I just got really lucky with the circle of friends that I have, but I don’t think I would have recovered as well without them. They never judged me or looked at me any differently, and I think that played a major role in me just going through the motions of learning the "new me”. I also owe a shout out to my dog, Layla. She was only a puppy when I was learning to walk again but she gave me the confidence to leave the house. She not only helped introduce me to my circle of friends, but she helped with my darkest days.

How did you feel when you were told you made the Warrior Games team?
I was so excited. I had the most amazing experience at Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 listening to the stories and learning from other competitors.

What is your greatest achievement to date? I was super lucky and grateful to represent Australia at Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023. However, my greatest achievement would be my ability to prove to myself, no matter how many setbacks I have or how many times I have been told I will never be able to do something, that I can push myself to get back up and put one foot in front of the other. I feel like my perseverance is my greatest achievement.

Why did you apply for Warrior Games? I have a lot to still learn, not just about myself but also other people. Where I live is quite remote, so when it comes to sporting opportunities for adaptive athletes there are limitations. I feel there is no better place than a program like the Invictus or Warrior Games. It gives you the chance to compete in an environment where you are surrounded by people who support, understand, empower and push you, while being able to relate in a way that people who haven’t enlisted cannot understand.

What will “winning” look like for you at the Games? It is being able to connect and meet other competitors, as well as being able to listen to their stories and learn from them. If I can make a new friend or just be able to learn more about how someone has overcome their struggles, then that is a win for me.

Who is supporting you at the Games? I have a tight knit group of friends and family back home who I’m sure will be watching me and cheering me on.