Wheelchair Games build confidence

Terri Tulley, a Marine Corps Veteran from Martinsburg, West Virginia, competed for the first time in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in July in New Orleans.   

“Getting back into sports has restored my feeling of competition and camaraderie. It has also given me the ability to rebuild my confidence and be active with my family.”

Tulley’s journey began at Martinsburg VA when she was approached by a fellow Veteran who expressed interest in playing sports. Inspired, Tulley embraced the opportunity to register for the Wheelchair Games to increase her confidence while connecting with fellow Veterans.  

As a first-time participant, Tulley wanted to try multiple events to see what she enjoyed or excelled at. This year, she competed in softball, pickleball, adaptive fitness, cornhole, disc golf, air rifle and swimming.

“I love being in the water. I’ve never done lap swimming before the games but I figured that even if I was terrible at swimming, it would be fun to be in the pool.”

She said it was a busy week, but she learned so much about herself and adaptive sports.

“I find myself sitting down and playing in my wheelchair.”

Tulley served in the Marine Corps from 2000 to 2003 as a water support technician.

“I was injured in 2001 and wasn’t amputated until 2020. So, I had years of rehabilitation, compensation issues and not feeling very athletic,” she shared. “I recently completed physical therapy to build strength and improve my overall wellness in order to walk again. Now, I find myself sitting down and playing in my wheelchair. What I’ve discovered is that the chair serves as an equalizer, enabling me to engage and play with many more people.”

Tulley’s participation has also impacted her family, particularly her six-year-old daughter who traveled with her to cheer her on.

“What excites me about the wheelchair games is that they don’t take anything away from my daughter. Attending the games with me adds to her experiences and broadens her view on life as she grows up. It’s giving her an experience and new perspective of my transformative journey that she wouldn’t have otherwise,” Tulley said.

“It reminds me that we’re not alone.”

Using adaptive sports to engage with her community, Tulley has become an ambassador for her fellow Veterans at the Wheelchair Games. Her goal is to continue her adaptive sports journey and encourage fellow Veterans to explore sports rehabilitation.

“I want to continue swimming, playing softball and pickleball at my community recreation center. Being an ambassador for Veterans moves me to be out in the community more. It reminds me that we’re not alone. We have a community that appreciates our experiences,” she added.

To see pictures from this year’s event, visit 2024 National Veterans Wheelchair Games | Flickr. For more information, visit Home – Wheelchairgames.