Retired Army Sgt. Robbie Gaupp takes aim at the target, draws back on the bowstring of his recurve bow with his teeth and releases, scoring a nine as he hits in the ring surrounding the bullseye in the Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida, May 9.
The medically retired Texas Army National Guardsman, who first used a recurve bow when he competed in the novice team recurve before the Invictus Games, earned the bronze medal with his team.
He also earned bronze medals in the men’s 100-meter and 200-meter in running in his disability category. Gaupp said he hopes this will help his chances at becoming the Ultimate Warrior at the Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, June 15-21.
Invictus Games
“I only had four hours of practice on the recurve,” he said. “[I’d] never shot it before in my life.”
Gaupp usually shoots the compound bow, but he credits teamwork and the training he received from his Team Army coaches for his success at the Invictus games.
“We talked to each other on the line, and we all came in there with different disabilities,” he said. “This was our first time shooting together as a team, and we went in with the mindset that we were walking away with a medal.”
While Gaupp appreciates earning a medal with his teammates, he said the spirit of the Invictus Games was important.
“We know we have injuries and watching someone overcome something that they were given with their disability is far superior than winning a medal anytime,” he said.
Injury
While out on mission in 2008 with Border Support Security for the state of Texas for Operation Jump Start, Gaupp shattered his right shoulder, tore his ligaments and tendons and his chest cavity.
He was right-handed, and now has to do everything with his left after two surgeries were only able to salvage his arm.
“Luckily, I’m alive. It could’ve been worse. I have two wonderful kids. Yeah sometimes it’s a struggle because they want to do things I can’t do but it’s all good,” Gaupp said of his son, Anzel, 9, and Patience, 7.
His children said they were really proud of him at the Invictus Games.
“I’m really proud of him,” Patience said of her dad. “He shot pretty good. He’s awesome.”
Anzel said he’s never tried archery but “dad’s going to teach me.”
When asked what they both want people to know most about their father they said in unison, “That he’s an athlete.”
Adaptive Sports
Gaupp said he went to a dark place when he got injured but then he decided to give adaptive sports a try and learned just how resilient he is. He encourages other service members to try them as well. “Don’t give up,” he said. “… Say to yourself, ‘I got this. I can do this and you know what? I can make this.’ You’ve got find this within yourself. No matter what, you can overcome anything. We can adapt.”
He said that while he can no longer do things the way he used to, “it doesn’t stop me from trying,” he said. “I know I’m not going to ever be able to catch a football the same. I’m not going to be able to run the same. So I just adapted to that, and I found a way to make it even better, and yes, I might not ever be able to run as fast as I could, but I’m going to get as close as I possibly can,” he said.
Warrior Games
Gaupp has competed in several Warrior Games, but his first games meant a lot to him. “I had nothing. I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t know what I was going to do. Life was all confusing to me. I was a general mess,” he said. “It was like ‘Wow, I’ve got the opportunity to compete with other injured soldiers who are overcoming adversity so when I’m down, I get to watch somebody who may have a worse injury than me and say to myself, “If they can do it, I can do it.”’ Watching those people succeed made me want to push harder to make myself succeed.”
This year, he is shooting for the Ultimate Champion title, a pentathlon-style competition that pits athletes against each other in a variety of disciplines. Points are earned in each discipline, and the athlete who collects the most points is crowned Ultimate Champion of the DoD Warrior Games.
“I can’t wait because the Army’s never had an Ultimate Warrior, … and I think I have a great chance to do that,” he said.
Gaupp is also on the U.S. Paralympics track and field team. He is qualified but doesn’t know if has been selected yet for the team for Rio de Janeiro in September. He also plans on going to Nationals.
“I don’t know if I made the team but if not, I’m not giving up,” he said. “I’ll shoot for 2020 and 2024.”
At the DoD Warrior Games, approximately 250 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans representing teams from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy/Coast Guard, Air Force, U.S. Special Operations Command and the United Kingdom armed forces will participate in eight sporting events -- archery, cycling, track and field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball. The DoD Warrior Games highlight the resiliency and warrior spirit of service members, veterans and their families and caregivers.