Veterans with disabilities join Valor Games: ‘I’m doing stuff that I didn’t expect to do even with vision’

Lynetta Smith hadn’t competed in a Paralympic Biathlon before.

She didn’t think she could go in for a sport that combined skiing and rifle shooting with her visual impairment.

But by Thursday midday, she was hooked and looking forward to more next year.

Smith, 69, a Navy Veteran, is from Lombard and she competed for her first time at Valor Games Midwest, hosted by the Chicago Park District at McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Rd.

“I’m enjoying it…I’m doing stuff that I didn’t expect to do even with vision,” Smith said.

Thursday was the last of the three-day Paralympic sporting event for veterans who have served or are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces with physical, visual and invisible disabilities.

The Biathlon event requires contestants to ski 200 meters on machines and follow that up with laser-only rifle shooting. For Smith, there was a separate rifle set-up where she took her aim with auditory cues.

The park district’s Ricardo Lara, the program and event coordinator, said the games were designed with the intention of making it accessible and inclusive while ensuring it is mindful of their disabilities.

Ayo Adeyemi, 40, another Navy Veteran, is a returning contestant from 2017 who traveled from Indianapolis to attend. This year, he joined the shot put, discus, rowing, archery, and biathlon events. He also tried the tennis demo, a new addition this year.

“It feels good to be around fellow veterans and staff who truly care,” Adeyemi said. “This is usually when I was stuck to a routine…as long as I come here and do it, I compete and I feel better about myself mentally and physically,” said Adeyemi.

Adeyemi hopes the games gain more sponsorship and participation.

This year’s entrants included 75 people who competed in rowing, field events like shot put and discus, archery, cycling along Lake Shore Drive, tennis, table tennis, power lifting and biathlon. The 70 included some contestants from outside the Midwest, like Florida, Texas, Georgia, Kentucky and California, according to the park district.

Englewood resident Sonia Kennedy, a second-time participant, told the Sun-Times she placed in three categories last year and is hoping to beat her own record. As of the start of day three, she already won a medal for rowing.

Kennedy feels the competition gives veterans, especially ones with disabilities that are not visually obvious, a great opportunity to socialize.

“Some of the veterans have brain injuries like TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injuries), PTSD and it gives them a chance to kind of come and still socialize,” Kennedy said. “Because a lot of times you’re isolated if you don’t have the support or care.”

Kennedy, who has PTSD and a hearing disability, said her own disability is not visibly obvious.

“I want people to know about Valor Games and really provide some extra support, even though the park district does a lot for us and there are other veteran organizations,” Kennedy said. “I want the general population to really support the veterans.
They’ve served their country. A lot of people came back a different way than the way they left.”

For most, the games are healthy goals.

“I’m turning 70 next year, so I might have to tip the scale and do as much stuff as I can,” a smiling Smith told the Sun-Times.