Skip to Content

Athlete Spotlight – Clay Grimstad: Stoic and Composed

August 21, 2021 | Story by Megan Trexler | Commander, Navy Installations Command

WASHINGTON – “Do not go gentle…” ADAN Clayton “Clay” Grindstad shared that this quote from Thomas Dylan’s best-known villanelle poem, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.”

Grimstad shared that this quote resonates with him because of the fundamental idea that for those who actually “live out their lives” will better see how life has been bright for them. Grimstad said that the quote reminds him that he “should stay fierce and strong.”

Grimstad expressed that the Navy Wounded Warrior’s program has been a stress-relieving avenue for him during his recovery journey.

Grimstad, a freshman Team Navy athlete, was slated to compete in three sports during the Department of Defense Warrior Games. His sports would have included archery, cycling, and swimming. Out of all the sports, Grimstad expressed that he was most looking forward to cycling.

Navy Wounded Warrior is the Navy’s sole organization for coordinating the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen and providing resources and support to their families.

The Warrior Games are a Paralympic-style competition among more than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members from all branches of the U.S. military, as well as from international armed forces. The 2021 Department of Defense Warrior Games would have been hosted at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida from September 12-22, 2021. The invitation-only event was going to feature 12 sports: archery, cycling, field, golf, indoor rowing, powerlifting, shooting (precision air), sitting volleyball, swimming, track, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. The 2021 DoD Warrior Games were canceled due to ensure the safety, health and well-being of our service members and local communities as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to affect the country.

Newsfeed

Check out the Fall 2022 Edition of the Navy Wounded Warrior's Family Newsletter! --- October - December 2022

DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Sitting Volleyball | From the sport’s origin to explaining why one team member wears a different color jersey, here is a list of four facts to know about the sport.

DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Archery | From the types of bows to sports origin, here is a list of facts to know about the sport.

Check out the Summer 2022 Edition of the Navy Wounded Warrior's Family Newsletter! --- July - September 2022

Congratulations to MA2 Robert Orr! He was selected as Navy Region Southwest's Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month for October 2022.

Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Tiffany Hamilton shares her personal story of her recovery journey with PTSD.

Tony Jungblut finds new life after 26 years in the US Navy through Navy Wounded Warrior. For Jungblut, the Navy Wounded Warrior program offered ways to stay active though adaptive sports and avenues to receive help and care during and after his transition to civilian life.

Former Marine Sgt. Dario Santana continues his life of service by serving as the Family Program manager at Navy Wounded Warrior headquarters

DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Indoor Rowing | From an overview of indoor rowing’s origins to competition style, here is a list of five facts to know about the sport.

Join us in congratulating ITC Deatrice Sumlin! Sumlin was selected as the Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month by Navy Region Southwest for February 2022.

Check out the Spring 2022 Edition of the Navy Wounded Warrior's Family Newsletter! --- April - June 2022

Join us in congratulating LCDR (Ret.) Jeffery Dewey. Dewey was selected as the Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month by Navy Region Southwest for March 2022.

DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Powerlifting | From the sport’s Paralympic Games history to explaining the difference between weightlifting and powerlifting, here is a list of four facts to know about the sport.

Congratulations to YN1 (Ret.) Lorraine Currow, who was selected as 2021 Navy Wounded Warrior of the Year by Navy Safe Harbor Foundation.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Shanice Dansby shares her journey with Navy Wounded Warrior. ---- Story shared from DVIDS.

DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Cycling |From the DoD Warrior Games events to the sport’s origin, here is a list of four facts to know about the sport.

DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Shooting | From the sport’s Paralympic Games history to explaining the competition style, here is a list of three facts to know about the sport.

DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Field | From an overview of golf’s origins to your chances of getting a hole-in-one, here is a list of six facts to know about the sport.

DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Swimming | From the explaining the sport’s Paralympic Games history to the different types of starts, here is a list of six facts to know about the sport.

DoD Warrior Games Featured Sport: Field | From the explaining the term athletics to the Paralympic Games history, here is a list of five facts to know about the sport.

Back to top