Invictus 'showed me what winning means'

Most people serving in the Australian Defence Force will tell you the best thing about the experience is the camaraderie. When they leave, the sudden loneliness can be crushing.

Carrie-Anne Bishop, 34, served in the Australian Army for 13 years. Highlights were a stint in East Timor, participating in border protection operations and working on the 2014 G20 summit.

In 2015, it all came to an end. Brisbane-born Bishop was medically discharged with injuries to the hips, back and shoulder sustained in service.

Once she returned home, mental health problems also arose.

"With the physical issues comes a lot of mental issues as well. When you realise you can't do things you used to do, it plays on you a bit," she says.

Plus, she yearned for the mateship she was accustomed to in the forces.

"I loved my time serving my country, it was incredible," says Bishop.

"The mateship the defence force has, it's a different world. And a massive comfort as well."

Once she left the forces, she became a defence contractor. She was grateful that it allowed her to continue working around defence, but it wasn't the same.

"I wasn't really socialising. I went to work then went home," she says.

It took the Invictus Games to wrench her out of her comfort zone.

"I actually saw the Games on TV in Toronto in 2017 and thought, 'why not give it a go?' Sport was a large part of my life before I got injured and became isolated, not wanting to attend sporting events, knowing I could not participate.

"I saw Invictus Games 2018 as an opportunity to again become a participant in sport and in life."

It was a fantastic decision. Training for the Games, at which Bishop will compete in athletics and sitting volleyball, has got her out of the house, socialising, training and challenging herself both physically and mentally.

"It's been an incredible experience. It makes me feel like myself again," she says.

"Invictus has given me the confidence to know I can achieve things now. 'No' isn't really an answer anymore.

"It's given me a new way to look at life."

The spirit of Invictus - to never stop fighting and to do all you can to lift up those around you - has been a healing tonic for her body and mind. And one that's also inspired her Australian teammates.

As has the public support since the Games were announced.

"The support from the public has been incredible, pushing us to be better and better. We're very privileged and can't wait to compete in front of a home crowd, it's going to be amazing."

While Bishop says it would be incredible to win, she says just being part of a team again makes her feel like a winner.

After all, she has a different definition of "winning" these days.

"I admire anyone who sustains a serious injury and is told they will not be able to do certain things again.

"They are the people who get up and get on with life."

* More than 500 competitors from 18 nations will compete in 11 adaptive sports at venues across Sydney for the 2018 Invictus Games, which will take place between October 20 and 27.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.