‘I am enough’: Team Canada athlete says Invictus Games has renewed sense of purpose

The countdown to the Invictus Games is on, and athletes are starting to arrive in B.C. for the competition.

Terri Seaman joined the Canadian military because she cared about helping people.

That passion led to a 22-year career as a medic, X-Ray technician, and sonographer.

She often worked with other health-care providers to help soldiers get back to their training routine.

In 2020, she was deployed to Latvia for an ongoing NATO mission.

“It was a great career,” she said.

In August 2024, she was medically released due to workplace injuries.

The 49-year-old said most of her injuries were from repetitive strains.

“The biggest one was my shoulder, because I’m a sonographer,” she said.

“I got to the point where even though I had shoulder surgery, I couldn’t hold the probe long enough to do the ultrasounds anymore. It’s a bit disappointing. I loved my job.”

‘I was very shocked’

Seaman said she had mixed emotions leaving a career she had spent two decades in.

“I tell people it’s like moving away at 17 from your parents’ home. You don’t have that support as much anymore,” she said.

To fill that void, she decided to try out for this year’s upcoming Invictus Games, held in Whistler and Vancouver.

“I was very shocked when I got the email,” she said.

“I had to read it a couple times and then once the shock was over, I was very honoured to be selected.”

Wheelchair rugby, swimming

Seaman will be competing in wheelchair rugby, swimming and cross-country skiing in a sit ski.

One of the reasons she cited for competing was her desire to remind herself of her value.

“Physically, I can’t do all the activities I really used to enjoy,” she said. “It was really hard on my mental health because I kind of lost who I was by not being able to do all of those activities, and so it just makes me feel like I wasn’t worth it, and where do I fit into society now?”

Since taking part in three training camps leading up to the February competition and meeting others with similar stories, Seaman said it’s helped her build a new community and regain a sense of self.

“It definitely has gotten me more confident to try new things and that I am worth it and I am enough,” she said.

The Invictus Games take place from Feb. 8 through 16 and bring together up to 550 competitors from around the world to compete in adaptive sports.