At a wheelchair-basketball tournament in Chicago earlier this month, one of the top players was Williamsburg native, Purple Heart recipient and Navy officer Nate Hamilton.
On July 7, when Team Navy faced Team Army in Chicago during the Department of Defense’s Warrior Games, there was a lot riding on the tournament — and not just for Hamilton.
The Warrior Games are similar to the Paralympics, but specifically for wounded veterans and current military personnel.
Though a hard-fought loss to Army in basketball brought disappointment for Team Navy, Hamilton found the whole experience rewarding.
“It’s great to be part of a team again,” said Hamilton. “The camaraderie we share has really helped me continue on my road to recovery.”
Team Navy includes service members and veterans with upper-body, lower-body, and spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, visual impairment, serious illnesses and post-traumatic stress, according to Lt. Cmdr. Jenn Womble, a spokesperson for the team.
The Warrior Games feature events for injured and disabled veterans, according to the Warrior Games website. The Games were created in 2010 to help the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded and disabled veterans and to encourage camaraderie among individuals facing similar situations.
Events include cycling, swimming, wheelchair basketball, archery, shooting, track, sitting volleyball and field.
This year, approximately 265 wounded warriors participated from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard and Marine Corps, as well as the the Armed Forces of the U.K. and the Australian Defense Force. Among that group, 35 athletes were on Team Navy.
“The Warrior Games help sailors adapt to their new lives with their disability,” said Jenn Womble, a Navy Team spokesperson.
The games help veterans feel like a team and take steps toward recovery together, she added.
Life Lesson
Hamilton was selected for Team Navy after competitive Wounded Warrior Trials in February at Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu, Calif.
Though defeated on the basketball court, Team Navy found redemption in sitting volleyball.
In sitting volleyball, players are seated and cannot leave the ground when hitting the ball. Team Navy won sitting-volleyball gold, beating Team Army 25-20 and 25-23 in a best-of-three competition, according to a news release.
Hamilton also competed in swimming, shooting and track and field.
He won two gold medals, four silver medals and one bronze medal.
“Competing in the Warrior Games reminds me how important it is to continue to overcome challenges and obstacles in my life,” Hamilton said. “It’s great to be out here with my team, pushing each other to keep going, not just on the court but in life.”
Emma Hartley, a WYDaily intern, contributed reporting to this article.
