Skip to Content

   

2021_Team_Navy_Athlete_Spotlight_Elizabeth_Smith_Web_Thumbnail_1920x1080.jpg

Athlete Spotlight – Elizabeth Smith: Making a Splash

January 11, 2022 | Story by Megan Trexler | Commander, Navy Installations Command

WASHINGTON – AZ3 (Ret.) Elizabeth “Ellie” Smith joined the U.S. Navy in 2016, leaving for boot camp less than three weeks after graduating high school. Smith shared her decision to join the Navy, “I’ve always had a desire to serve. The Navy offered me everything I wanted to do.”

On Valentine’s Day 2017, Smith was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a cancerous tumor that starts in the lower back part of the brain and spreads through cerebrospinal fluid. Smith’s mom and non-medical attendant (NMA), Stacey Smith said, “(Ellie) is so strong. She never ceases to amaze me! Her drive, will, humor, and faith are huge.” Stacey Smith continued, “She has come so far since being diagnosed with cancer.”

After learning that Smith was a competitive swimmer, her Navy Wounded Warrior non-medical care manager encouraged her to participate in the adaptive sports program. Smith said, “I learned so much about myself at that first camp. I realized that I could still do things. I could still find myself in sports – even if it looked a little different.”

One year after completing treatment, she participated in the 2019 Navy Team Trials and was selected to represent Team Navy in the Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games in Tampa, Florida.

Smith shared that she’s always loved swimming. She said, “I am in the pool at least an hour every day. I have been swimming competitively since I was 5.” She earned a bronze medal in swimming during the 2019 DoD Warrior Games.

She expressed that since her diagnosis, she feels at home in the pool because it’s where she “feels the most normal.” Smith shared, “I am grateful that I can continue swimming at a competitive level through the adaptive sports program.”

Smith was slated to compete in archery, cycling, field, shooting, swimming, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby in the 2021 DoD Warrior Games.

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

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
Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Tiffany Hamilton shares her personal story of her recovery journey with PTSD.
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.
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.
Congratulations to YN1 (Ret.) Lorraine Currow, who was selected as 2021 Navy Wounded Warrior of the Year by Navy Safe Harbor Foundation.
Check out the Summer 2022 Edition of the Navy Wounded Warrior's Family Newsletter! --- July - September 2022
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.
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: 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.
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.
Congratulations to MA2 Robert Orr! He was selected as Navy Region Southwest's Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month for October 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.
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.
Check out the Spring 2022 Edition of the Navy Wounded Warrior's Family Newsletter! --- April - June 2022
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.
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: 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.
Check out the Fall 2022 Edition of the Navy Wounded Warrior's Family Newsletter! --- October - December 2022
Back to top