By Steff WillisThursday 7 Apr 202296five AfternoonsSportReading Time: 2 minutes
Brisbane Mum Sarah Petchell is a one busy lady.
By day she’s a Chaplain at Enoggera State School and Pine Rivers Special School, host of the 96five Chappy Chats podcast and as well as being a single mum, Sarah is also the co-captain of Team Australia who are headed to the Invictus Games at The Hague this month.
The Invictus Games is a sporting event for wounded, injured and ill Servicemen and women to help promote recovery and rehabilitation while fostering a greater understanding in the community for those who serve their country.
Sarah says it’s an amazing feeling and a real honour to not only complete with current and former serving Australian veterans but to be named as the Co-Captain of Team Australia alongside Sergeant Shane Bramley.
“The team is an amazing bunch of people who are really doing their best to recover from their injuries, to get over their limitations and I get to encourage and support them as well preparing for my own competitions too” says Corporal Sarah Petchell.
“I’m doing what I need to do to prepare but I really want this Games to be about my teammates and how well they do and that they have a great time”.
Sarah is competing in discus, stationary rowing and powerlifting where she’s using her experience of winning Powerlifting Gold in the Sydney Invictus Games in 2018 to lead the powerlifting team.
The Invictus Games was initiated by the Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex in 2014 and was inspired by William Ernest Henley’s poem Invictus which means unconquered, illustrating the tenacious attitudes of the competitors. Sarah is no stranger to challenge and adversity as says there’s a lot to deal with when you have injuries to your body and mind.
“I think we can all empathise with having situations whether it’s health, whether it’s family things, whether it’s stuff to do with your kids that comes up and derails your plans. These are all opportunities that arrive for you to overcome, to apply that Invictus spirit of being unconquered.”
“I’m nothing special. I’m just a normal person.. I’m 42 years old, a single mum. I’m just trying my best in the world and I’m just taking whatever opportunities come before me and doing my best with it. That’s that unconquered spirit, taking what you have in front of you whether it’s a lot or a little and doing your best with it.”
You can watch Sarah doing her best while competing at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands held from April 16 to 22.