TORBEN LOUWEN-SKOVDAM
Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 Competitor
ADF service: I joined the Australian Regular Army in July 2008 and graduated from the Royal Military College Duntroon on 2009 to the Australian Army Catering Corps. After a 16-year career as an Army Logistician, I was medically discharged in July 2024. I’ve had a diverse and rewarding posting history, primarily serving as a Logistic and Operational Planner at the unit and formation level, developing a strong foundation in Combat Brigade operations. I held command appointments as a Platoon Commander at the 7th Combat Service Support Battalion and Officer Commanding 1 Catering Company, 10th Force Support Battalion. After completing Australian Command and Staff College in 2021, my final Army appointment was as the Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General, Headquarters 3rd Brigade. Throughout my Army journey, I have fulfilled a number of unique operational appointments, including a 2016 deployment on Operation Aslan, where I was deployed as a Logistic Plans Staff Officer within Mission Support Division, United Nations Mission in South Sudan and a 2019 deployment on Operation Solomon Islands Electoral Assist 2019, where I deployed as the ADF/NZDF Liaison Officer to the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission. With most of my career being posted to northern Australia, I have also deployed domestically on numerous Defence Aid to the Civil Community tasks. On reflection of my career, I am incredibly proud of the personal and professional growth I have been afforded and feel incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity to serve our country.
Other information: After medically retiring, our family remained in Townsville, where my wife, Renee, a PhD graduate and secondary school teacher, has established herself in the Christian education network. We have 4 children – James (15), Luke (14), Sophie (13) and Emily (12). I’m affectionately called ‘Tubs’ by my mates.
Age: 39
Hometown: Lancefield, VIC
Current town: Townsville, QLD
Competing in: Biathlon, indoor rowing, nordic skiing, swimming, and wheelchair basketball.
What is the nature of your injury or illness? I had a mental health breakdown in 2022, precipitated by undiagnosed PTSD related to a deployment to South Sudan in 2016. Over that six-year period I experienced increasingly intense anxiety attacks, increased alcohol intake and episodes of depression and suicidal ideation. After a period of leave and self-help, I commenced treatment for anxiety and depression and made multiple attempts to return to work in 2023. As I sought increased levels of medical assistance, I was subsequently diagnosed with PTSD leading to my medical separation from Defence in July 2024.
Sport background: Team sports were a huge part of my childhood. I started playing under 12s cricket as a 6-year-old in my hometown, Lancefield. I soon took up both golf and basketball, however found a passion for Aussie rules in my late teens. I continued playing Aussie rules at various clubs throughout my Army career, but stopped playing in 2018 as I withdrew further and further into myself as my mental health deteriorated.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? While I had become uncomfortable m=within team environments, I understood how important physical activity was (and is) in helping me manage stress and moderate my mental health. After my final season of Aussie rules, I decided to take up distance running, completing my first marathon in Singapore in 2018.
How did you feel when you were told you made the Invictus Games team? Relieved, motivated, but mostly proud.
What is your greatest achievement to date? Helping Renee raise 4 brilliant kids.
Why did you apply for Invictus Games? In addition to providing a short-term fitness goal to support my physical rehabilitation, the main reason I applied for Invictus Games 2025 was to give me purpose in the immediate aftermath of my transition from Defence and to support my psychosocial rehabilitation.
What will ‘winning’ look like for you at the Games? My hope is that being part of Team Australia will provide a supportive environment for social inclusion and help me in regaining some of my lost confidence and resilience, while also supporting my reintegration back into the civilian community, post-transition.
Who is supporting you at the Games? My wife, Renee, and our 4 children, James, Luke, Sophie and Emily, will be attending the Games.
