Maj. Jessica Guerin, a retired Canadian army medic, battled post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from her 2008 tour in Afghanistan. Facing a dark period in her life, she turned to Spartan Races, pushing herself physically and emotionally. Her grueling experiences, including a tearful breakdown during a 24-hour race in Scotland, led her to the Invictus Games, where she will compete as part of Team Canada. Guerin's journey demonstrates the transformative power of sport in healing and recovery.
Always interested in the Spartan Races – long distance races involving several obstacles and challenges – Jessica Guerin decided to sign up for every race in 2023. It was 4 a.m., and Maj. Jessica Guerin was on a mountain in the Scottish Highlands crying.
Six months later she was alone on a mountain in Scotland, crying about "things that I had held on for so long." Created by British veteran Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, the Invictus Games were first held in 2014 in London to encourage recovery and rehabilitation to wounded, injured and sick service men and women across the world through the power of sport.
After her tour, Guerin went to the Royal Military College of Canada where she trained to be a personal selections officer, a role she now serves in Petawawa, Ont.Before being diagnosed with PTSD in 2018, Guerin said she enjoyed a very active lifestyle, competing in half marathons, full marathons, military Mountain Mans and even an Ironman. But in 2019, while taking a motorcycle driving course, Guerin crashed and broke her arm and leg.
She got herself back into the military gyms with trainers to help her reach her goals for the races and slowly began to feel like herself again.But the experience at that race and her Spartan races became part of her application to Invictus, showing how sport was helping her heal and why she believed she should be on Team Canada.
The Invictus Games feature the core sports of indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball. Guerin used to ski with her son, Liam, when he was younger, but hadn't been on skis since her motorcycle accident. Since joining Team Canada Guerin learned there are five other athletes who also work on the same base in Petawawa, but whom she would never have met otherwise, as they all work in different sectors. The athletes now have a group chat they communicate with each other in.
Veterans Health PTSD Invictus Games Spartan Races Canadian Military Recovery Sport
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