Pushing Limits & Building Bonds: National Veterans Wheelchair Games

More than 500 Veterans from across the country came together for the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, held in Minneapolis over six days in July. The Mountain States Chapter—represented by 29 Veterans from Colorado, New Mexico and Utah—collectively participated in 19 sports and brought home 60 medals.

Launched in 1981, the Wheelchair Games have grown into the world’s largest annual wheelchair sports event for Veterans with disabilities. The Games are open to Veterans with spinal cord injuries, amputations, multiple sclerosis or other central neurological conditions who use a wheelchair for athletic competition. 

The event celebrated its 44^th year, drawing support from 3,000 volunteers. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 90. 

Happy Barton looks forward to the Wheelchair Games all year long. This year marked her ninth time competing. 

It’s my lifeblood. I live for it.

To get to the Games, Barton drove 1,500 miles from her home in Wells, Nevada with her sister and husband. A Quality of Life grant from the chapter helped cover gas and lodging along the way. “If we hadn’t had that, we wouldn’t be here,” she says. 

Barton loves to compete—in power soccer, her team won bronze, and in archery, she took home gold in the compound bow event. But for her, the Games are about more than medals. 

“I love all the people,” she says. Being with other Veterans who push forward despite disabilities “encourages me. It’s the opportunity to be my best.”

She’s grateful to the Salt Lake City VA for providing her with a power soccer chair last year. “It’s faster, more agile, and you have better angles on the ball,” she says.

Jose Carter, of Los Lunas, New Mexico, attended the Wheelchair Games for the first time this year. It was also his first time traveling out of state since his injury eight years ago.

I was a little nervous.

To prepare, Carter joined weekly group practice sessions led by Annalise Doyle, recreational therapist at the New Mexico VA in Albuquerque. The sessions include boccia and wheelchair slalom practice as well as weightlifting to help him get in shape. Over three months, he met with a VA psychologist to learn strategies for managing anxiety. 

The preparation paid off. Carter won three gold medals: in bowling (which he had never tried before), boccia and wheelchair slalom. “I’m super happy I went,” he says. He also played power soccer for the first time. “My teammates were really encouraging and helpful. It was an awesome experience.”

Carter says he plans to stay in touch with a fellow Veteran he met from North Carolina. The man is an amputee and wears only one shoe—like Carter, except on the opposite side. “We talked about exchanging shoes because we are about the same size,” he said. 

For Carter, who also has a C4-level spinal cord injury, what stood out the most was connecting with so many other Veterans. “It’s that camaraderie—they understand you, and they have similar mindsets.”

I definitely would like to go again.

Cody Smith competed in his second Wheelchair Games this year.

“Everybody’s pulling for one another to do their very best,” he says. “That’s the coolest part about it.” 

That energy helped Smith dig deep during the adaptive fitness event, when, about halfway through, he felt like he was going to be sick. “I don’t know if I would have dug down that deep without all these people cheering,” he said. He went on to win gold in his division. 

Smith also won gold in wheelchair slalom, one of his favorite events. That finish qualified him for Super G, a longer and harder version of slalom. When he competed last year, the roar of the crowd distracted him. This year, he prepared differently. In the hours leading up to the event, he listened to music to stay calm, including Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing”—a refrain he kept repeating in his head. Smith notched the third-fastest time. Next year, he hopes to be even faster. 

While Smith enjoys competing, what he appreciates the most is the spirit of the Games. “People are connecting with each other and growing with each other,” he says. “It brings the best out of me.”

To Veterans who haven’t competed before, Smith offers his advice: “Get over the fear of the unknown and just try it. You won’t have any regrets.” 

The next Wheelchair Games will take place in Detroit from July 9 to 14, 2026. 

Feature photo: Richard Spears swims the 100-yard breaststroke and wins gold in his division.