Invictus Games life changing for Manitoba athletes

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This article was published 21/09/2023 (927 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lealand Muller can see light for the first time since his life took a darker turn than he ever thought possible.

For five years, Muller, 29, sat listlessly in his wheelchair, searching for answers to the problem he has dealt with after a tobogganing accident on his birthday on Feb. 19, 2018, left him paralyzed below the chest.

“Very deep, dark depression,” said Muller, who grew up in Winnipeg. “A lot of people think they’ve hit rock bottom, but I can tell you I think rock bottom goes a little bit deeper than what people think.”

Perhaps the biggest weight dragging Muller down was his career as a vehicle technician for the Canadian Army was over. He was officially released from duty in September 2022 after eight years of service.

“I felt like there was no going on. I didn’t want to live anymore. I was a very active person, very involved with sports and loved to do a variety of sports — rock climbing and all these different activities — and having all that taken away from me, not being able to really be the person that I wanted to be… I felt like I was trapped inside my body and I wasn’t able to really just be myself.”

Things took a turn for the better earlier this month when Muller visited Düsseldorf, Germany, for the Invictus Games, a global multi-disciplinary event for sick and wounded servicemen and women and veterans.

While some left with medals, Muller, who competed in hand cycling, wheelchair basketball and discus, left with a new outlook on life.

“I was in a very dark place after my injury. I was very lost, I was struggling to rediscover who I was without the uniform and when this opportunity arose I was looking to meet other people from other parts of the world and learn from their experiences and how they overcame tragedy in their lives and how they have been able to continue pushing forward despite the experiences that they’ve encountered,” he said. “I can’t tell you how incredible some of the stories of the people I’ve met and what they’ve overcome.

“It’s really inspiring to know that my experience isn’t unique and there are other people who are going through similar experiences and that I’m not alone and that I can continue to live my life to the fullest despite my injury.”

Muller was joined by Lana Taylor as the Manitoba representatives in a group of 30 Canadians at the Invictus Games.

Taylor, who served for 30 years — 14 years as a signal operator and 16 as a postal clerk — suffered from physical injuries and mental health issues during her service and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2016. Despite her symptoms forcing her to bow out of some events, Taylor said the games proved to be everything she thought they would be.

“Being at the games was the most profound experience I’ve ever been part of,” said Taylor, 48, who competed in sitting volleyball. “When we leave the military for being medically unfit to serve, it takes away part of our identity. I felt lost in a way, while I was trying to learn what I could still do in life. With MS, physical activity can aggravate symptoms, so I had accepted that I couldn’t do sports anymore. This was hard for me because sports was a big part of my career.

“The games are a starting point for a much better, inclusive. There are no adequate words to describe the love and connections you feel at the games.”

As for Muller, he said he feels as though he’s been given a new lease on life and has begun uncovering a new identity, one that’s separate from ‘Corporal Muller.’

“I feel like a massive door has been opened and I’ve just discovered a bunch of opportunities I wasn’t quite aware of. I’ve been exposed to a community of people that are willing to help me,” he said. “Despite being from coast to coast, everyone is so willing to help one another and I feel like I’m just that much closer to being myself again.

“Just rediscovering life again and rediscovering all the best parts of it. Life does go on and you just gotta find a way to make it happen.”

Vancouver and Whistler will host the next Invictus Games in 2025.

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jfreysam