It has been a massive couple of years for former Army infantryman and Caloundra local, Jake Christie.
In the past five years he has undergone two shoulder reconstructions, a hip replacement, surgery on the other hip, got married to Lauren, became a father to now seven-month-old daughter Halle, and been selected to represent Australia at the Warrior Games.
Competing is a huge turning point for the footy tragic, who started playing rugby league as soon as he was old enough and is keen to “feel like an athlete again” after an extended period of surgeries and rehabilitation.
“I came home (after being discharged) in 2021 and played footy, but I was very close to pulling the pin every week because I was in so much pain in my hips,” Mr Christie said.
“And then I couldn’t go around again after that season. So retiring from sport, or contact sport at the age of 26, it’s pretty awful.
“I’m just keen to get back to competing in something.”
Representing Australia in powerlifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair basketball, 100m sprints, 4x100m relay, shot put, discus and swimming is a miraculous journey of rehabilitation, hard work and determination for the 29-year-old.
Working with a physio and exercise physiologist multiple times a week over the past 18 months, spending hours in the gym and slowly getting back to the sports he loves has been tough, but Mr Christie’s age and fitness levels have helped play a huge factor in his recovery.
“Most people who have a hip replacement are in their 70s or older,” he said.
“But I had a really good surgeon and he said, ‘we’re doing it now because you’re so young; you still want to live your life’.
“After I had it done, I was just blown away at how quick the initial recovery was. I was back playing golf three weeks after … I just had to dial my swing back a little bit.”
While pulling on the green and gold might be intimidating for some, the Team Australia kit won’t be an unusual feeling for Mr Christie. He has played rugby league in NRL curtain raisers against the New Zealand Defence Force on Anzac Day in 2018 and 2019 and has represented the ADF against a representative team in Papua New Guinea.
In fact, squaring up against hundreds of current and former-serving US military members just seems to fire up Mr Christie’s competitive spirit.
“I want to compete against the best and I guess the more people who are going to be there to compete against, the tougher the competition is going to be, so I’m just looking forward to testing myself,” he said.
The games are underway until June 30 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida.
