Lenny Redrose

Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 Competitor

ADF service: I joined the Australian Army in 2012 and discharged in 2016 with the rank of Private. My unit was Joint Movement Coordination Centre (JMCC) based in Brisbane. I was fortunate enough to be sent on two operations: Operation Queensland Flood Assist and Operation Philippines Assist. Operation Philippines Assist was my career highlight by far. Being in a high-pressure environment brought out the best of my character and training. The Philippines had been hit by a cyclone which was a massive eye opener. This operation taught me how resilient people can be.
 
Age: 37
 
Home town: Melbourne, Victoria
 
Current town: Melbourne, Victoria
 
Competing in: Wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and hand cycling
 
What is the nature of your injury or illness? I am a T4 paraplegic complete. In October 2016 I walked into surgery and came out the other side with spinal cord damage from the chest down. I don’t have any voluntary movement, no sensory feeling, lack of control of my bowel and bladder and I suffer with severe chronic neuropathic pain on daily basis.
 
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? I had always been into sport pre-paraplegia, playing soccer at a very high level in Australia. In the early days of my recovery, I was still struggling with a crystal methamphetamine addiction which had lasted for 12 years on and off. I went into some dark places which I never want to see again. My mentor Marcus, who I was introduced to while in spinal rehabilitation, played a crucial part in my change of lifestyle. He gave me some tough love at a time when I really needed to be pointed in the right direction. That direction led me to try out for the Victorian Wheelchair Football League. I was drafted to the St Kilda Football Club and with this opportunity my life took the most positive step. I have since been part of four Spartan Races, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Half Marathon and various other sporting events. I now put sport and health first. It’s become my addiction and I have been able to live the happiest life ever. Sport really saved my life.
 
Sport background: I was at the Victorian Institute of Sport on a full scholarship at age 15 for soccer and was awarded the Australian Youth Soccer Player of the Year. I now play Wheelchair AFL.
 
What is your greatest achievement to date? My goal has been to change the narrative around people with disabilities. My spinal cord injury has showed me another side to life I never thought I would see. For over four years now I have been in control of my life, my drug addiction and my choices. My greatest achievement to date is that I’m not a slave to my addiction. I love the life I live as I went from negative to positive. 
 
Why did you apply for the Invictus Games? Since the Games began, I kept saying I was going to make the team one day. However, they were loose comments as mentally I was not ready. Roughly one year later I was in the window of opportunity and applied for the team. While waiting to see if I would get a call up, I trained non-stop and that improved my physical and mental health. I had a goal which kept me focused on a positive path.
 
What will success look like for you at the Games? Success for me is everyone getting involved and breaking their own barriers. I love seeing people do amazing things and everyone at these Games will be doing just that.
 
What does unconquered mean to you? What I have been able to do with my life. My life hasn’t been easy, from growing up in very low economic conditions, drug addiction and spinal cord injury; however, I never gave up. Unconquered to me is being The Smiling Cripple.