By Glenn Hicks

Local Invictus Games athlete pushes hard in Toronto

Sep 28, 2017 | 8:00 AM

A local athlete and former serviceman is crediting the Invictus Games for giving him the extra push in his battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Retired Corporal Joe Rustenburg from Warman, who is part of Team Canada at this week’s international 550-athlete event in Toronto, said the Games have helped his recovery. The event is billed as a sports festival of ‘wounded warriors.’

“If you let your illness and injury take you down the rabbit hole it can get dark and really bad,” Rustenburg told paNOW from Toronto on a day off from competition. “With the therapy of sport it can help you get moving and get you out of that mindset and help you physically and mentally.”

Rustenburg said his efforts to train for and commitment to his sport have helped as he tries to overcome his mental illness which was diagnosed eight years ago.

He spent two tours of duty with the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2008.

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“Pushing myself as hard as I can… that’s my way of pushing through and coming full circle to where I was,” he said.

Rustenburg competed in track and field (shotput, discuss and 100 meter sprint), and powerlifting earlier this week, and was also going to be taking part in wheelchair basketball. As for entering the 100-metre sprint, he said he wanted to challenge himself and show how far he’d gone in overcoming his health issues.

“I’m a heavy guy and I thought it would be a good showing to do the sprint, to put my all into it and show what I can put my mind to,” he said.

Rustenburg said he feels humbled by all the support the injured service men and woman have been getting in Toronto.

“It’s not only support from our individual areas where we’re from but from the whole country. It’s great to see the Canadian pride and kindness shine through,” he said.

Rustenburg is being cheered on at the Games by his mom, brother and sister-in-law from Ontario and his in-laws from La Ronge. His service dog Vixen is also on hand. But he said there’s a bond being forged at the Games among all the international athletes.

“The catch phrase for the event is ‘I am’, but since the Games started there’s more of a ‘We Are’ spirit among everyone.”

Glenn.Hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princelabertnow