Warrior Games underway in Springs, nearly 200 to compete

The fifth annual Warrior Games began with the opening ceremonies and the lighting of the torch at the U.S. Olympic Training Center Colorado Springs.

The weeklong event brings together nearly 200 wounded and ill members of the military both active duty and veterans competing in a number of sports.

Rookie Curtis Krenzke walked the grounds for the first time Sunday and his competitive fire is already fueled.

“It’s more of an internal or self-competition,” Krenzke said. “You’re not going out there to defeat your opponent. It’s more enhancing oneself for the sake of competition and sport.”

In a nine-year span Krenzke deployed a combined seven times to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was wounded in 2011.

“My team, we hit an IED and we got ambushed,” Krenzke said. “I was shot in the left leg, had a through and through shot of the left tibia.”

This wounded warrior, who is still an active duty member of the Air Force, believes the sense of togetherness with fellow service members once felt on the battlefield thousands of miles away is restored in a different setting at the games.

“The everyday camaraderie of your brotherhood and sisterhood of your fellow comrades…what it does is it gives you that back,” Krenzke said with a beaming smile.”

Krenzke will compete in two swimming events on Tuesday, the 50-Meter Freestyle and 50-Meter Relay.