SEAN GRIMMOND

Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 Competitor

ADF service: I was an Airborne Electronics Analyst in the Royal Australian Air Force after joining as an Avionics Technician in 2006. I was medically separated from the Australian Defence Force in 2023 after serving on Operations Augury, Atlas, Bushfire Assist, Covid-19 Assist, Gateway, Resolute and Saville.

Age: 36

Hometown: Sydney, NSW

Current town: Adelaide, SA

Competing in: Indoor rowing, skeleton, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.

What is the nature of your injury or illness? I had what felt like a muscle strain in my leg and was caught completely by surprise to find out the cause was nerves in my back, and I was going to be grounded and sent to a specialist. It degenerated rapidly to the point I could only walk a hundred metres at a time and needed to be operated on. It went well though and I eventually returned to flying. I couldn’t conceal my obvious physical injury but, what wasn’t apparent at the time – although with the benefit of hindsight maybe it was – was the struggle I was having dealing with trauma and moral injury from my deployment on Operation Augury. Only once I reached out for help did things start to improve and I found out just how many of my colleagues were facing the same battle themselves.

Sport background: I started Little Athletics at 4-years-old and throughout childhood played rugby union, soccer and cricket. During my ADF career I was able to keep playing soccer. I completed a refereeing course to help out the club when we couldn’t get enough officials on base and it was immediately evident, almost painfully so, how much better an official I was than a player. I quickly moved up the divisions and before injury and illness caught up with me, I had officiated 2 seasons of National Youth League and a couple of A-League friendlies. I loved to run and would try to get to parkrun every week, ran a few marathons and briefly gave triathlon a go. With contact sport and long distance running off the table, I’m currently playing wheelchair basketball and competing in motorsport.

What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? When I was undergoing rehabilitation for my back injury, my athletics club was very supportive. When I could barely walk, I would head out to the clubrooms and someone would drag a chair out to the track for me and I would coach from the chair. I felt valued, included and had a purpose. It gave me social connection when I was otherwise at home waiting for sick leave to finish. Soon I could walk properly, then I could jog, then run, then fly. Now I am on a second rehabilitation pathway; I’d lost my sense of purpose, I felt worthless and had little social connection. I’ve turned to sport again and the positive change has been dramatic. 

How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? I was incredibly grateful to be given an opportunity to be a part of the team after meeting a remarkable and inspirational group of people at the selection trials. Then I felt a sense of pride and confidence that I had not felt in many years on reflecting on how far my rehabilitation has come.

What is your greatest achievement to date? Being selected for Team Australia at Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.

Why did you apply for Invictus Games? I was at a stage in my life where I needed a focus and something to strive for when I was left directionless after discharge. I thought back to better periods of my life and a clear pattern emerged. When I was more active and more involved in sport, I was happier, more successful professionally and had better relationships with the people around me. I was also encouraged by the experience of previous Invictus athletes who I had met and how it had formed a part of their recovery.

What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? Winning for me will be the Games making a lasting change to how I live. This will, without doubt, be the highlight of my sporting career, but not the end. I want to launch from here into as much sport and activity as I can. Even better still, if those of us fortunate enough to be here on the team this year can encourage others to get out, have a go and experience the benefit of sport the way previous athletes encouraged me, that is a win.

Who is supporting you at the Games? My partner, Helina, will be coming to support me in Vancouver. My brother, Tom, who is still serving, and his family will be at home watching.