MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Gabriella “Gaby” Zamora, a Navy Intelligence Specialist 3rd Class from Bethesda, Maryland, will join over 250 wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans at the Department of Defense (DOD) Warrior Games Challenge. The event, scheduled from June 21-30, 2024, will be held at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.
Zamora will be among the athletes representing the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Special Operations Command. During the 10-day competition, she will participate in archery, indoor rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, and track events.
Hosted by the U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command (TRADOC), the Warrior Games is the DOD’s premier adaptive sports competition, celebrating its 14th anniversary this year. The event showcases the extraordinary physical and mental resilience of seriously wounded, ill, and injured active-duty and veteran service members. While medals are awarded, the primary focus is on personal perseverance, tenacity, and the triumph of the human spirit.
Zamora’s journey into adaptive sports began six months into her treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Following complications from a routine surgery that nearly resulted in the loss of her arm, she underwent a challenging recovery. “Sports gave me a reason to keep going,” Zamora said. “The many trips to camps gave me something to look forward to when I was at a point in my life when I thought I wouldn’t make it, mentally.”
For more details on the 2024 DoD Warrior Games Challenge, visit dodwarriorgames.com.
About Adaptive Athletics
Team Navy is part of the Navy Wounded Warrior’s adaptive athletics program. Serious illness or injury can drastically alter a service member’s life, often confining them to a hospital bed and changing their physical capabilities. Adaptive athletics are tailored to the abilities of injured or ill individuals, helping to build self-esteem, reduce stress, and reintegrate them into a supportive team environment.
About Navy Wounded Warrior
Navy Wounded Warrior is a non-biased advocate for service members, bridging the needs of commands, care teams, and individuals in recovery planning after serious wounds, illnesses, or injuries. The program offers holistic recovery plans tailored to individual needs, empowering service members and their families as they adapt to new circumstances. Tens of thousands of seriously wounded, ill, and injured service members across the country have benefited from Navy Wounded Warrior.
Service members and their families can self-refer or be referred by command leadership or medical teams. For assistance, contact the Navy Wounded Warrior call center at 855-NAVY WWP (855-628-9997) or email navywoundedwarrior.fct@navy.mil.
