Unsinkable Sailor Strikes Invictus Gold

Krista Seguine, Invictus Gold

Lieutenant (Navy) Krista Seguin wins gold in the Invictus Women’s Heavyweight powerlifting event at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre on Sept. 25. Photo by: Corporal Michael MacIsaac

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

A naval officer from CFB Esquimalt is paving her road to recovery with Invictus Games gold.

Lieutenant (Navy) Krista Seguin, who works for Base Accommodations, captured a gold medal in the Women’s Power Lifting Heavyweight Division at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 on Sept. 25.

Prior to arriving for the third edition of the international sporting competition for injured and sick military personnel and veterans, the 28-year-old had modest expectations.

“All I was shooting for was to do my best and hope that my training and hard work kicked in,” said Lt(N) Seguin. “Winning a gold medal was surreal. It’s something that I have always dreamed of, so I am ecstatic.”
The victory seemed all the more fitting because prior to the Games she held the Latin phrase “Luctor et Emergo”, which means: I struggle and emerge, as her mantra.

Like the other athletes Lt(N) Seguin is using the power of adaptive sport as part of her recovery process. She suffers from a Compartment Syndrome in her right leg, a painful condition that puts pressure on muscles and joints. She developed the condition during basic training at Royal Military College in 2007.

“I am definitely not pain free, but thankfully the pain did not hinder my performance,” she said. “Unfortunately it’s doubtful that I will ever be pain free; however, I have found many ways to cope with the pain, and staying active and playing sports is one of them.”

In her path to the top of the podium, Lt(N) Seguin lifted 85 kg, edging out retired Canadian Armed Forces medical technician Jackie Buttnor, who captured a silver medal for Canada, and Emma Pack of the United Kingdom who took bronze.

The bench press competition requires participants’ feet to be strapped down with three attempts to lift as much weight as they can. There were seven other women competing for the title in Lt(N) Seguin’s division.
She also competed for Canada in Sitting Volleyball, but unfortunately her team did not advance to the playoff round.

After winning the medal she reached out to friends and family, some of whom travelled to Toronto to see her compete, along with her teammates, coaches and Team Canada staff.

She said being around and competing against like-minded people who had been through similar experiences was instrumental to her victory, and encouraged others suffering to consider adaptive sport as a path to rehabilitation.

“I would encourage anyone with a service-related injury, anyone that is struggling in their recovery, to consider playing adaptive sports or applying to participate or even volunteer at the next Invictus Games,” said Lt(N) Seguin. “Finding my competitive edge and love for sports has greatly helped in my ongoing recovery.”

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