ORLANDO, Fla. — More than 200 military members and veterans are set to compete in the 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games this week at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports.
This is the second time Disney is hosting the Warrior Games. They first hosted in 2022.
Teams from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations Command, and Australian Defence Force will come together for 10 days of competition. To view the teams, visit the Warrior Games website.
Close to 1,000 people from around the country and former Australia military are in town for the games. That includes nearly 200 warrior athletes competing.
Maitland resident and U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Pierre Sturgis is competing for a second straight year. He said he decided to get involved with the Warrior Games because it helped him with his physically and mentally recovery.
Sturgis, who is originally from Delaware, joined the Marines to escape a part of town he says came with a life sentence or death sentence.
“It was an urban environment,” he said. “It was crime infested. Drug infested.”
While serving, he was able to go back home to visit friends and family. During that visit, the same place he tried to escape to save his life, still took a piece of him.
“What ended up happening was some shots went off, and I caught one,” Sturgis said.
Five surgeries weren’t enough, and his left leg had to be amputated.
In 2022, Sturgis attended his first Warrior Games in Orlando. It was seeing military members just like him compete that reignited him with a purpose.
“I am able to be around these warriors here and give me that brotherly or sisterly love,” Sturgis said. “It keeps me coming back. It helps me with my healing journey.”
Not only does Sturgis train annually for the Warrior Games, he’s also a member of the Orlando Magic Wheels and continues to try to recruit servicemen and women just like him to the Warrior Games for anyone else that needs support like he did just a few years ago.
No tickets are necessary as all events are free to attend.
Wounded, ill and injured active duty and veteran service members will compete from June 21-30 in an adaptive sports Paralympic-style competition that highlights their exceptional physical skills and mental toughness.
Wounded warriors representing each branch of the United States military and Australia practice for the upcoming 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games hosted by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command on Thursday, July 20, 2024. The Warrior Games are an adaptive sports competition taking place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. from June 21-30. (Disney Sports via Bennett Stoops, photographer)
The games feature 11 adaptive sports including archery, cycling, precision air sports, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing and powerlifting. To learn more about each sport, visit the Warrior Games adaptive sports website.
Friday’s powerlifting competition kicks off the games, followed by cycling and wheelchair rugby on Saturday. Sunday features precision air day and another round of wheelchair rugby.
The public is invited to attend and volunteer registration is still open and available.
For more information on the event and to watch online, visit the DOD Warrior Games website.
Wounded warriors representing each branch of the United States military and Australia practice for the upcoming 2024 Department of Defense Warrior Games hosted by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command on Thursday, July 20, 2024. The Warrior Games are an adaptive sports competition taking place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. from June 21-30. (Disney Sports via Bennett Stoops, photographer)