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Former JBLM soldier to compete at 2022 Warrior Games

Retired SFC and Madigan Army Medical Center employee Doug Duval will compete as a member of Team Army at the 2022 DoD Warrior Games. Photo credit: Courtesy image

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Medically retired Sergeant 1st Class Douglas Duval will compete on Team Army at the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games. The team is comprised of 40 wounded, ill and injured soldiers and veterans.

These soldiers and veterans first competed in the Army trials in order to be selected to make the team.

"I want soldiers and veterans to know that no matter what, we can overcome anything and do anything we want," began Duval who injured his right arm while stationed in Hawaii, and who now serves in decedent affairs as the Madigan Army Medical Center representative.

"I will have the burning pain in my right arm for the rest of my life," he explained. "Being on the team is not just for me, it is also for others to see what we can still do.

Hosted by the Army's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), hundreds of warrior athletes from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Special Operations Command and international allied nations will compete in paralympic-style adaptive sporting events.

"Our incredible warrior athletes have overcome tremendous obstacles, and we are excited to watch their resiliency and dedication in action," said Gen. Paul Funk, commander of TRADOC. "They represent the very best of our nation."

The athletes will compete in 11 events: archery, track and field, indoor rowing, powerlifting, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.

Duval qualified to compete in four events - archery with his teeth, swimming (50- and 100-yard free style, 50-yard backstroke and 50-yard breaststroke) and field events (discus and shot put) with only his left arm, and in both a seven and 18-mile cycling race.

His training regime is staggering.

Duval swims four times a week, averaging 1,000 yards; he cycles four times a week, riding 17 to 30 miles per ride; shoots archery four to six times a week, averaging one to three hours; and he practices with the discus and shot put when he can squeeze it in.

"When I'm training, I have ID tags on my bike to remind me to push through when I'm tired and hurting," continued Duval.

"I will have the burning pain in my right arm for the rest of my life, and it will continue to get worse and possibly spread to other limbs," he added. "But I train no less than two events a day. But I do whatever it takes to represent Team Army and hopefully medal."

The games will be held in Orlando, Florida from Aug. 19-28 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort.

"My competing is not only just for or about me. It is also for those who are not with us anymore and have given their all," concluded Duval.

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