Adaptive Sports

More than 200 Veterans from across the country participated in the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic At-Home.

This year’s Summer Sports Clinic cycling event featured a 30-mile round trip ride on adaptive cycles provided by the Wounded Warrior Project.

Golden Age Veterans setting off on 1200-mile cycling race. Part of the virtual National Veterans Golden Age Games. Goal: “Fitness for Life”

The 2020 Paralympic Summer Games kick off with opening ceremonies on Aug. 24 in Tokyo, Japan. Competition begins Aug. 25 and concludes Sept. 6. Nearly 4,400 athletes, representing 100 countries will compete in the Paralympics.

Today, the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist is putting her experience in strength and fitness toward  leading the first-ever live-virtual adaptive fitness competition at the 40th National Veterans Wheelchair Games, which are underway in New York City.

Roy Wilkins was a football and basketball star at his North Carolina high school and competed in the same two sports at Clemson University, a big-time Division I program in South Carolina. Playing defensive back, he contributed to Clemson’s 1981 football team that finished 12-0 and won the national championship. Then, in an instant, Wilkins lost his athletic superiority – or so he thought. Serving as a command sergeant major in the Army's special forces. Wilkins was riding in an armored vehicle that went over a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in November 2004.

The Mets, Nets, Giants, Islanders, and Yankees competed last week at Randall’s Island Park in New York City. The Islanders captured the gold medal, the Nets the silver, and the Yankees the bronze. VA and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) co-presented the wheelchair games from Aug. 7 to 14.

Nearly 3,000 Americans perished on Sept. 11, 2001, in the deadliest attack ever on U.S. soil. The chilling day is simply known as 9/11.

Veteran and retired VA employee Mary Bader first became interested in the Golden Age Games when her Korean War Veteran father participated.

Making it even more special for him is that this was his first time playing wheelchair rugby in 15 years. He looked a little winded after his first of two complete games, but in all he felt good.

Army Veteran Kristie Townsend is competing for the first time at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, which has been shown her a whole new world of opportunity.

VA and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) co-present the event, with VA NY Harbor Healthcare System hosting the 2021 Wheelchair Games—the world’s largest annual wheelchair sports event solely for Veterans. Veterans will be participating in 21 adaptive sports and recreational events in the “Big Apple” and at-home from their communities across the nation. The games mark a major milestone of 40 years of empowering the nation’s Veterans to live happy and healthy lives through adaptive sports and recreation.