7 medals, 1 comeback

SANDUSKY — A devastating accident nearly ended Allaijah Churchwell's Army career. Instead, it led him to seven medals at the 2025 Department of Defense Warrior Games. Churchwell, 29, a Sandusky native and Groveport Madison Sr. High School graduate, was selected to represent the U.S. Army in Colorado Springs this summer. Competing in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, swimming, archery and track & field, he earned one gold, three silver and three bronze medals. "It was incredible to be surrounded by warriors who have been through so much and continue to push forward," Churchwell said. "Every event reminded me of how far I've come." Army career interrupted After graduating high school in 2014, Churchwell worked at Whirlpool in Clyde before enlisting in the Army in 2016. He completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and advanced training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. His first assignment was at Fort Riley, Kansas, followed by a nine-month rotation in Poland. He later reenlisted and transferred to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, where he earned his Air Assault qualification and took part in a three-month training exercise in Australia. In 2023, just months before he was set to leave Hawaii for drill sergeant duty, tragedy struck. On Nov. 29, 2023, Churchwell was riding his e-bike to work when he was struck in a serious collision. The crash left him with two broken femurs, five broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. During his recovery, Churchwell's first sergeant urged him to join the Army's Soldier Recovery Unit to focus on healing. It was there that he discovered adaptive sports, which soon became central to his rehabilitation. He trained across multiple disciplines, from archery and swimming to wheelchair rugby and basketball. In late 2024, he competed at the Pacific Trials in Hawaii and then at the Army Trials at Fort Bliss, Texas, in April 2025. His performance earned him a spot at the Warrior Games. The Warrior Games The Department of Defense Warrior Games were first held in 2010 and bring together wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from across the U.S. military. The competition is designed not only to showcase athletic skill, but also to highlight the resilience and recovery of soldiers who have faced life-altering injuries or illnesses. More than 200 athletes representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and U.S. Special Operations Command competed in this year's games, held July 18-26 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Events included track & field, swimming, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, cycling, powerlifting, archery and precision shooting. For Churchwell, it was his chance to measure how far he had come since his accident. "I know something traumatic happened to me, but I'm blessed to have met the people I've met," he said. "This recovery journey has made me stronger than I ever imagined." From Sandusky to Poland, Hawaii to Colorado Springs, Churchwell's path has been anything but ordinary. But with resilience, dedication and a community of fellow soldiers by his side, he has turned hardship into triumph. And, as he puts it: "I'm just getting started."