Olympics or National Veterans Wheelchair Games?

Dr. Luis Rivas, a psychologist in the Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders Unit at the San Juan VA in Puerto Rico, is also a volunteer sports psychologist for the Puerto Rican National Basketball team. Right now, he’s at the National Wheelchair Games.

Just two weeks ago, the Puerto Rican National Basketball team earned its way into the Paris Summer Games. This is the first time they have qualified for the Olympics since 2004 in Athens.

Instead of being in Paris, Rivas is in New Orleans serving as an official for the Wheelchair Games in archery, boccia, table tennis, 9-ball and field events. “It’s the highlight of my year,” he said.

There are 17 Veterans representing VA Caribbean and Puerto Rico PVA in this year’s team and Rivas has an opportunity to connect with them back at their home VA. The takeaways from the games for athletes are bigger than just who are the winners of the competitions.

“When I meet with the team at home I tell them this is an opportunity for you to work on managing your condition in a new setting. Every year we go to a new city and we don’t know what we’re going to find, from the different airports, hotels and streets to the weather, meeting new people and even the rugs at the convention center,” he said. “It comes with its challenges but once you are able to overcome that, when you return home you have learned something new about yourself and have acquired a new skillset that you can then use in your everyday life.”

Rivas started coming to the Games in 2012 and was a coach for four years prior to becoming an official. “I feel privileged and am very grateful to have this opportunity. It’s an honor for me to do what I do. Mind you, I’ll still keep in touch with the basketball team back in France, but this truly is home for me.”