“Phenomenal” is how United States competitor Jamie Biviano described the crowd, as she crossed the finish line in the Women’s Recumbent Bike Time Trial at the Royal Botanic Garden on Sunday.
“The Aussie spectators are awesome. They were cheering loudly for every competitor, making the atmosphere amazing,” said Biviano, who is participating in her first Invictus Games.
The 30-year-old has set herself a gruelling program at Invictus Games Sydney 2018 presented by Jaguar Land Rover, entering both road cycling events (time trial and criterium) as well as the swimming, indoor rowing and athletics competitions.
“Winning silver in my favoured and first event was awesome. It was a beautiful course but the incline at the end felt like I was crawling sideways up a building. It was a 90-degree incline and I was literally pulled out when I finished by the medicos when my left leg cramped up.”
It’s been a long road for Biviano who was diagnosed with a spinal cord lesion and then transverse myelitis while serving in the USA Air Force in Bagram, Afghanistan in 2012.
She was temporarily paralysed from her armpits down.
“I had to learn to walk again and live with an injury that could flare up again at any time and paralyse me again.
“I started training with some inspiring Invictus competitors to recover, not dreaming that I could make an elite athlete team.
“My body is like having a chihuahua on your dog sled team. But I am at the pinnacle of my fitness down 16kg to 63.5kg after massive steroid treatment to shrink the spinal lesions.
“I’ve been dealt a horrible hand of cards and I’ve learned to play them,” said Biviano.
While competing in individual events at Invictus Games Sydney 2018, Biviano stills sees herself as a team sport person.
“We train together. We share our highs and lows. We are all struggling through the same thing to find a better path.”
Biviano was looking forward to celebrating her success with her support person, best friend and younger sister Amelia. When she returns to the United States, she wants to get back to milking cows at the Holstein dairy where she volunteers, and planning her April 2019 wedding to fiancée Stephanie.
Joy Allen
Invictus Games Sydney 2018