T

he word "disabled" is seldom heard at the Invictus Games.

Not out of courtesy. Not out of correctness. Absolutely not out of pity.

Out of spite.

Forgive the competitors at this elite international competition if the word is no longer in their vocabulary. They have routinely accomplished things others thought impossible. The strength in their minds regularly supersedes the doubt in the minds of others.

Invictus Games competitors have been inspired to pursue athletics as a salve for body and mind -- a reason to keep getting out of bed and trying to improve a little bit every day. As part of the healing process, they hope to inspire the next generation of wounded warriors to improve their physical and mental health through sports.

Some have lost limbs, but none have lost their spirit.

Brian Williams

Air Force • Basketball

Katie Kuiper

Army • Cycling

Sualauvi Tuimalealiifano

Army • Shot put, discus and wheelchair rugby

Billy Meeks

Army • Archery

Shahnaz Askins

Navy • Powerlifting, indoor rowing, shot put, discus

Jorge Salazar

Marine Corps • Shot put, discus, rugby and wheelchair basketball

Israel Del Toro Jr.

Air Force • Shot put, discus, cycling and powerlifting

Delvin Maston

Army • Wheelchair basketball

Stefan Leroy and Knoxville

Army • Track and sitting volleyball

Kristen Esget

Coast Guard • Swimming

Brett Parks

Navy • Sitting volleyball and swimming

Michael Kacer

Army National Guard • Track and field, indoor rowing and swimming

John Edmonston

Navy • Swimming

Sean Venezia

Marine Corps • Track and cycling

Michael Roggio

Navy • Swimming

Monica Southall

Army • Shot put and discus

Kelly Elmlinger

Army • Track, sitting volleyball and archery

Robbie Gaupp

Army • Track, sitting volleyball and archery

Elizabeth Marks

Army • Swimming

Robert Green

Army • Seated shot put, discus and archery

Sebastiana Lopez Arellano

Air Force • Wheelchair rugby, hand cycling, indoor rowing, track and field

Peter Cook

Marine Corps • Cycling and swimming

Anthony McDaniel

Marine Corps • Wheelchair rugby, rowing, track and wheelchair basketball

Adrian "AJ" Mohammed

Navy • Tandem cycling and track

Ana Manciaz