Veterans team to compete at the Surf Lifesaving World Championships
A message from Invictus Australia
Invictus Australia, with the support of Surf Life Saving Australia, has been granted permission by the International Life Saving Federation to enter a combined military veteran team into the 2022 Lifesaving World Championship in Riccione, Italy.
Historically, individual athletes have competed under their club cap at this pinnacle event. Now for the first time, Team Veteran Australia will enter as a team made up of military personnel from different surf clubs around Australia competing under a single cap.
Members of Team Veteran Australia hail from clubs across the country and will compete as a team at the World Championships from 20 September to 9 October. The Italy-based competition was originally scheduled for 2020 but, as with the majority of events including the Invictus Games, was postponed in March 2020 due to COVID-19.
Team Veteran Australia is comprised of eight current and former-serving men and women of the Australian Defence Force. The team will also be supported by Team Manager and Invictus Games competitor, Sean Lawler and Head Coach and former Ironman, Zane Holmes. Competitors, who are participating in a civilian capacity, come from a mix of backgrounds and disciplines including ex Ironmen, former Special Forces soldiers and Invictus Games alumni.
Team Manager Sean Lawler explained why sport, in this case Surf Life Saving, is so instrumental to the mental and physical health of military personnel.
‘I cannot over state how important it is to remain connected,’ he says. ‘We as soldiers, tend to lose our identity once we leave the Military. Local community organisations such as Surf Life Saving Clubs can provide an environment whereby we are able to regain a sense of self worth. And as Surf Life Saving and Defence have similar core values or community & service, it allows us to help the community on a local and national scale.’
The next World Championships will take place on the Gold Coast, Australia in 2024.
More information is on the Invictus Australia website.
