sergeant emily lahey
DoD Warrior Games 2024 Team Australia Competitor
ADF service: I joined the Australian Army as a Command Support Clerk in 2010. I have been posted to 6th Aviation Regiment, Special Operations Engineer Regiment and 3rd Health Support Battalion. I deployed on Operation Highroad (Afghanistan) in 2015 and Operation Accordion (United Arab Emirates) in 2019.I am currently posted to Headquarters 4th Brigade, where I remain on long term medical leave.
Other information: I live by the beach with my husband, Jason, and our two dogs, Olive and Molly.
Age: 32
Hometown: Launceston, Tasmania
Current town: Melbourne, Victoria
Competing in: Athletics, indoor rowing and powerlifting.
What is the nature of your injury or illness? I have Stage IV cancer, affecting my sinuses, skull and brain. I have complete loss of vision in my left eye due to the tumour’s position and have mental health conditions.
Given the rarity of this cancer, it typically sees a life expectancy of six to nine months. While there have been setbacks and many unknowns, I remain on a targeted treatment intervention and my condition is currently stable.
Sport background: I come from a family of sport lovers. Having rowed and played netball and soccer during high school, I now enjoy strength and high intensity interval style training, cycling and reformer pilates.
What role has sport played in your rehabilitation? Exercise has been a big part of my rehabilitation, while also benefitting my mental health and general wellbeing. Arguably, it has given my body a greater ability to fight during treatment.
There was a point in time where I was unable to walk the short distance to the end of my street due to the crippling effects of chemotherapy. Since then, I have worked hard to regain physical strength and look forward to pushing myself even harder to see what I’m capable of in preparation for the Games.
How did you feel when you were told you made the Warrior Games team? Excited, nervous, determined and above all, extremely fortunate.
What is your greatest achievement to date? Surviving to be able to tick things off my “living list”, including walking the Three Capes Track in Southern Tasmania, buying a house, swimming with whale sharks in Exmouth, swimming in the pool at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, getting married… and there’s still plenty more to do!
Why did you apply for Warrior Games? I applied for Warrior Games to find a new focus and have something to work towards. Since being away from the regular workforce, I have missed the camaraderie and day-to-day interaction with work colleagues and mates, and the feeling of being part of something meaningful.
What will “winning” look like for you at the Games? Being selected to represent Australia at the Games is already a huge win in my books.
Who is supporting you at the Games? My husband, Jason, my parents, Sharyn and Dean, my brother and sister, Darcy and Maggie, and my mother-in-law, Terrie, are my biggest supporters. Alongside extended family and friends, they will be cheering me on from the sidelines here in Australia.
