Captain Olivia Miley-Dyer
Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 Competitor
ADF service: I was appointed to the Australian Army in February 2017 and commissioned in July 2018. Upon commissioning I was posted to 8th Combat Service Support Battalion as a Platoon Commander. In December 2019 I deployed on Operation Bushfire Assist (Op BA) as a Troop Commander, working closely with the Rural Fire Service operations and logistic team to co-ordinate and allocate supply tasks for my platoon. I remained on Op BA into 2020, working in the Joint Task Force 1110 Operations team, as the ADF Liaison Officer to NSW Police at the State Emergency Operations Centre. In April 2020 I deployed on Operation Resolute as the Watch Commander for Transit Security Element 97, where I commanded a watch of 50 soldiers and sailors. In September 2020 I deployed on Operation COVID-19 Assist, as liaison officer to the commander of the Regional Force Surveillance Group. In 2021, I was posted to Headquarters 2nd Division as the liaison officer to the division’s deputy commander. In 2022, I posted into Headquarters Forces Command Operations (HQ FORCOMD Ops), as the SO3 International Engagement. In 2024 I have remained in HQ FORCOMD Ops working in as the SO3 Plans - Individual Training.
Other information: Before joining Defence, I worked for the United Nations in Cambodia, working for the prosecution on the Khmer Rouge War Crimes Tribunal. I also worked for the Australian Mission to the United Nations in New York. I was inspired to join Defence after working with the military advisors on peacekeeping reforms and seeing firsthand how they worked together in service of others. I have a twin sister named Phoebe, who is a federal prosecutor and an older sister, Jessi, who is a retired professional surfer and is the Commissioner of the World Surf League. My mum, Jenny, is a primary school teacher and my father, Graeme, is a tradesman. I have 1 maltese x shitzu fur child named Wolfie. I am very close to my sisters and feel particular gratitude to my twin sister as she is the one who noticed a lump and swelling in my neck and urged me to see a doctor. At the time I had no other symptoms and was told by my medical team that the cancer had spread so extensively throughout my neck that it was almost inoperable and, if I had started treatment any later, my prognosis would have been much worse.
Age: 31
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Current town: Sydney, NSW
Competing in: Biathlon, Swimming, Nordic skiing, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing. What is the nature of your injury or illness? During the pandemic, I was diagnosed with advanced thyroid cancer and underwent a 9-hour neck bilateral dissection which required all the nerves and muscles across my entire neck to be cut. I also had all the lymph nodes in my neck removed and spent time in ICU and 10 days in hospital. After a short recovery period, I then started a round of systemic radiation, which required me to be locked in a hospital isolation room, with only a small window in the door for the medical team to check on me. This period coincided with a spike in COVID cases and was extremely stressful for my entire family, who had the burden of caring for me during a global pandemic and who had to greatly modify their behaviour in order to limit my risk of catching COVID. During this period I returned to full-time work and started my rehab program. Then my yearly scans confirmed my cancer had metastasised to my lungs and I went back into hospital the next day. A few days after leaving hospital, I tested positive for COVID for the first time while conducting my radiation isolation period at home. This was extremely stressful as I was concerned about how my lung capacity would be impacted by both the radiation and COVID. This fear, as well as continued neck and back pain from treatment, led me to focus strongly on swimming. I know I will possibly require a new form of targeted treatment in the future and am heavily invested in swimming and regaining my fitness to ensure my lungs and body are as strong as possible to withstand any future side effects from further treatment.
Sport background: I have a strong sporting background and throughout my recovery I have focused on rehab and physical activity. During high school I competed at a national level in water polo, ocean swimming, surfing and running. During university I was on the UNSW Elite Athlete Program and competed for UNSW in water polo and surfing. I was also a long-time member of Bronte Surf Club and was club captain as a junior. My greatest sporting achievement is every time I beat my twin sister. I had never tried any winter sports until this year. My twin sister and I have recently started taking ice skating lessons and, although our skating skills need a lot of work, we regularly go to support the Sydney Bears in the Australian Ice Hockey League.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? I have always loved sport. While my pre-cancer self focused on the competitive side of sport, I now use sport for pain management and rebuilding the lifetime of fitness that cancer has stolen from me. After learning that it had spread, I quickly found the only comfort I had was the knowledge that by living a fit and healthy life I had given my body the best chance to endure whatever might come next. Throughout my treatment, I have had long periods of waiting to see how effective each round of treatment would be. During these periods, I found training to be a safety blanket, as working on my strength allowed me to feel that I was actively contributing to my survival rather than relying on my medical team and family. I also found sport useful in managing the stress that comes with returning to full-time work while dealing with the side effects of my treatment and worrying about any further treatment, my job security and COVID concerns.
How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? I was told I had made the team by other members of the team while we were at a training camp. After being isolated and spending so much time by myself in hospital and at home throughout my treatment, it was amazing to be told I would be part of the team with so many incredible people. I was told I had cancer over the phone while I was out walking, and having to go home and tell my parents in person was undoubtedly the worst part of my diagnosis. Being able to replace those terrible memories with new positive memories of telling them I had made the team was a great kind of healing in itself.
What is your greatest achievement to date? My greatest achievement is going to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour 4 times in 1 week, including 1 Sydney show where I had an obscured vision seat and was moved to an amazing seat near the front by the Taylor Nation team. Throughout my recovery, Taylor was the only artist whose music brought me joy and a sense of calm when I was extremely stressed. My medical team may not share my ideas about the healing power of Tay Tay, but they did allow me to delay my next round of tests and appointments in order to see the Eras Tour, which was a huge personal victory for me.
Why did you apply for Invictus Games? Being diagnosed with cancer in my 20s and undergoing treatment during a pandemic was an extremely isolating experience. I was physically isolated, spending a lot of time in hospital and at home by myself. But it was also mentally isolating, as I have often dealt with negative attitudes from friends who have never had any major injuries or illnesses and who have held the view that I ‘don’t look sick’ and should stop being ‘scared’. I joined Invictus as an opportunity to meet and connect with other ADF members who understand the struggles that come with long-term rehab for chronic illness or major injuries. I am so happy to feel part of a team again, with so many teammates who inspire me to be better every day.
What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? Not continually comparing myself to my pre-cancer fitness levels and finding joy in ‘having a go’ and being part of an incredible team. For a long time, I was in denial about the long-term effects of my treatment and thought I’d just magically ‘go back to normal’. Joining the Invictus team has signified a real change in my own mindset, in which I have accepted my ‘new normal’ and am embracing all the opportunities I have, rather than focusing on what I have lost.
Who is supporting you at the Games? My sisters and parents. I hold a lot of guilt for the stress my treatment has caused my family, so I am very excited to share something positive with them. I am also so excited for my family to meet all my incredible teammates. I am the only member of my immediate family who does not have at least an Australian National title, so it’s an honour to join my older sister, Jess, in representing Australia.
