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May 25, 2009 · The triathlon is often a grueling event – testing both physical and mental stamina. Imagine participating in one with a prosthetic limb or while recovering from severe burns. Wounded warriors are showing everyone they’ve got what it takes to be triathlon competitors.
A five hundred meter swim, ten mile bike ride and two mile run was line up for the second annual mini-tri put on by the Center for Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Wounded warriors of all ages and recovery levels participated in the event. For Master Sergeant Chris Selph – being a triathlete is nothing new.
“I’ve always raced triathlons. My first triathlon was when I was fourteen. When I got wounded I just wanted to keep doing what I used to do,” said Selph.
Selph runs with a state-of the art prosthetic on his right leg.
“Yeah, I was shot twice in Iraq in December, 2005, and the wounds to my right leg, made my lower leg inoperable. So I had it removed in July of 2006,” said Selph.
After months of intense physical therapy at the Center for Intrepid, Selph learned to walk again and now feels like he’s almost back to normal, but competing with a prosthetic is a little different.
“I used to be worried about blisters, now I’m worried about raw spots on my stump. It’s not a lot different, it’s just getting used to it. I’m getting faster every time I run,” said Selph.
Major Stuart Campbell is the officer in charge of physical therapy at the Center for the Intrepid.
“My staff came to me about three years ago and asked if we could do something like this, because they really wanted to see what these guys could do outside of our clinic,” said Campbell.
Campbell says the event gives soldiers a goal to work toward during recovery.
“They do things in the clinic and they’re getting back into a life, but they’ve never actually gone out into an athletic event and really pushed themselves. So they do it here and most of the time they’re going to come out of here surprised at how much they can do, how well they can do, and how close they are to where they would consider normal,” Campbell said.
Some recovering soldiers watch and cheer on their fellow service members hoping that next year they will be able to compete, but Sergeant Selph is one of many who beat last year’s time and have already started thinking about the next triathlon. |
