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May 31, 2013
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Thunderbolt http://www.luke.af.mil
Desert Challenge competitors train at Luke by Senior Airman DAVID OWSIANKA
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56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
hat thoughts come to mind when hearing that a person has any of the following: vision impairment, traumatic brain injury, amputation, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or spinal cord injury? Probably not an athletic competitor. Fourteen U.S. Paralympic competitors trained at the Luke Air Force Base Fitness Center May 13 through 17 to prepare for the Desert Challenge that took place May 18 in Mesa. “This is important because it allows service members an opportunity to compete and realize that getting back into sports or finding sports can be a huge lift in their lives,” said Harrison Ruzicka, retired Army corporal and Desert Challenge Games competitor. The Desert Challenge Games is a regional competition for individuals with physical disabilities. The event is open to U.S. and international male and female athletes with permanent physical disabilities age 6 through adulthood who are interested in competitive athletics. The participants training at Luke AFB competed in shot put, discus, javelin; 100-, 200-, and 400-meter wheelchair and ambulatory sprints; and a 1,500- and 5,000-meter ambulatory run. “We brought the athletes into the environment they will compete in to help them acclimate and get a week of training with national team coaches,” said Kallie Quinn, U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympic Division associate emerging sports program director. “It’s great for our athletes (who are prior military) to train here, because they are able to re-engage with a military community.” The athletes received guidance from four national team coaches. “It’s been great to have the paralympic coaches instruct us with their level of training,” Ruzicka said. “It gets better each time I go to camp, and I improve because of the coaches brought in.” For Ruzicka, participating in events like the Desert Challenge isn’t just about competing. “I’ve gotten in much better shape since getting involved in these events, as well as meeting others who have gone through similar circumstances,” he said. “We share stories. It makes it easier on me, and I’m sure for some of the others as well to find that community (brotherhood) again that is such a big part of the military.”
TOP: Retired Arm softball field.
Senior Airman David Owsianka
Retired Army Staff Sgt. Nick McCoy trains May 16 at the Luke softball field. McCoy competed in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter wheelchair sprints at the games.
ABOVE: Scot Se
lenge Games 2013 competition for ind
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Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. “Cave Tonitrum�
May 31, 2013
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Senior Airman David Owsianka
Airman 1st Class Devante Williams
TOP: Retired Army Cpl. Harrison Ruzicka prepares to throw a disc during a Desert Challenge training session May 16 at the Luke Air Force Base Bryant Fitness Center softball field. Fourteen U.S. Paralympic competitors trained May 13 through May 17 at Luke for the Desert Challenge on May 18 in Mesa.
ABOVE: Gabe Gerbic competes in the discus May 18 during the Desert Challenge Games 2013 at Red Mountain High School in Mesa. The host organization of the games is Arizona Disabled Sports, which leads in Arizona providing athletic opportunities for disabled athletes. Senior Airman David Owsianka
Gabriel Scalan, 7, throws the discus during the games May 18.
Airman 1st Class Devante Williams
my Staff Sgt. Nick McCoy trains for the challenge May 16 at Luke
evern prepares to throw the javelin May 18 during the Desert Chal3 at Red Mountain High School in Mesa. The games are a multiday dividuals age 6 through adulthood with a physical disability. Airman 1st Class Devante Williams