Unconquered

Western Germany is more than 4,000 miles away from the Northwoods of Wisconsin but the distance was of little consequence for Laurie Mueller of Rhinelander as she was absolutely determined to follow her son, SSGT Gregory Walker, U.S. Air Force, Ret., as he represented his country in the recent Invictus Games.

Mueller, a Rhinelander native, used the Internet (primarily YouTube) to watch her son compete in several events, including track, rowing and wheelchair basketball, and is using his success in the face of adversity as inspiration as she deals with her own health issues.

Walker, 35, is an adaptive athlete who has won numerous medals in both Invictus Games and Warrior Games competitions. He was one of 59 athletes chosen to represent Team USA at the 2023 Invictus Games in Dusseldorf.

According to Mueller, Walker was in the Air Force working in security forces (he was deployed to Afghanistan three times during his 12 years of service) when he began experiencing intense pain in his left foot.

It was cancer, a rare form with an unusual name “that spreads like wildfire.”

After enduring radiation and chemotherapy, in November 2019 his left leg was amputated below the knee.

It was a crushing blow, but Walker’s competitive spirit kept him going, his mother said. He retired from the Air Force and now represents his country as an athlete.

Founded by Prince Harry following his service as a captain in the British Army, the Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick service men and women. Invictus is the Latin word for unconquered.

 The Dusseldorf event was the sixth edition of the Invictus Games. The first event took place in 2014. 

The sense of community fostered by organizations like Invictus and Wounded Warriors is just as important as the thrill of competition, according to Mueller.

“Gregory’s traveled all over the world and he’s got friends now all over the world and they’re like brothers and sisters,” she said. 

“He’s always been a go-getter, everything he’s wanted he has achieved,” she added.

Mueller has had opportunities to watch her son compete stateside, including in a Wounded Warrior Games competition in Orlando, Florida.

“It was just amazing,” she said, adding that watching her son work to overcome his challenges has helped her as she continues to cope with the effects of a serious head injury suffered in a car accident as well as fibromyalgia and other health concerns.

“I’ve been thinking these last two weeks if Greg can do this and all these people can do that (compete in the Invictus Games), I can get (myself) up, get on my bike or start walking or doing something,” she said. “There’s no excuse for me not to push.”

After a successful Invictus Games, Mueller said her son is still looking to push himself further. 

His dream is to participate in the Paralympic Games and, to hear his mother tell it, it would be a bad idea to bet against him. 

“He’s been training, he continues to train,” she said, adding that her son brings military-style intensity to everything he does. 

“He’s got such a confident, straight face,” she said. “He doesn’t smile that much because I think he thinks he’s still on that line serving our country where you need to be serious.”

Heather Schaefer may be reached at heather@rivernewsonline.com.