{"id":22745,"date":"2025-01-21T10:54:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T23:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/midlandexpress.com.au\/?p=22745"},"modified":"2025-01-21T10:54:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T23:54:59","slug":"torben-louwen-skovdam-heads-to-invictus-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centralvic.com\/midlandexpress.com.au\/latest-news\/2025\/01\/21\/torben-louwen-skovdam-heads-to-invictus-games\/","title":{"rendered":"A chat with a mate leads to Games"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Torben Louwen-Skovdam\u2019s Invictus journey started with a simple conversation with an old mate and colleague.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Little did he know that he would eventually muster up the courage to submit an Expression of Interest for Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 \u2013 giving his life much-needed purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The 40-year-old joined the Australian Army in 2008 after completing an Aquaculture degree at the University of Tasmania, where, coincidentally, he also met his wife, Renee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Growing up in Lancefield, Torben and his two older brothers enjoyed an active outdoor lifestyle, exploring the bush and enthusiastically participating in Cubs, Scouts and Army Cadets, so his decision to enlist was perhaps not that surprising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


A distinguished 16-year career punctuated with rewarding postings, operational assignments and overseas deployments followed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a mental health breakdown in 2022 \u2013 precipitated by undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder \u2013 led to increasingly intense anxiety attacks, increased alcohol intake, episodes of depression and suicidal ideation, and his subsequent medical discharge in July 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cI grew up playing team sports \u2013 cricket, AFL, basketball \u2013 and I continued to play cricket and AFL throughout most of my military career,\u201d said the father of James (15), Luke (14), Sophie (13) and Emily (12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cAfter my deployment to Sudan, I found myself withdrawing from my AFL club in Darwin. I\u2019d rock up, play the game and then I’d be straight out of there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cI just wanted to be by myself and in my own head, so, I took up distance running,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Committing to the Singapore Marathon in December 2018 meant he had an excuse not to return for the next footy season. That social avoidance continued for a number of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cI\u2019d convinced myself that it was a really great thing to have that (running) release for my mental health but, in the background, a lot of things were building up and up and up \u2026 and then things just imploded,\u201d Torben said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI reached out for some initial help through Open Arms (Veterans and Families Counselling) and, I guess, that\u2019s where my recovery journey began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cLearning that Invictus is about helping people with their recovery journey through sport was extremely appealing and the more I read stories of previous participants and the value they got from the experience, the more I realised how much I really, really wanted to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With no marathons or running activities of any kind on the Canadian Invictus program, Torben\u2019s focus is on wheelchair basketball, indoor rowing, swimming and biathlon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Of all the sports, the connection he made with wheelchair basketball was immediate. To his psychologist\u2019s astonishment, a few months ago, out-of-the-blue, he rocked up to a Townsville SunCity Wheelers training session, introduced himself and now joins them for weekly training and a scratch match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Torben clearly understands his recovery journey is not yet over, but acknowledges that being a part of Team Australia is helping his transition to civilian life as much as it is contributing to his rehabilitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cI needed the short-term fitness goal to support my physical rehabilitation, but also needed the purpose as I adjust to life outside Defence,\u201d Torben said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cWhat I\u2019m particularly enjoying about the Invictus experience so far is being part of that team environment I grew up with. It’s really awesome having that connection with people again; feeling you\u2019re part of a group, part of something bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cWhat I can\u2019t wait for, is that point when we all get home and we\u2019re just sitting back as a family and reflecting together on not only how far I\u2019ve come in terms of my recovery, but how as a family we’ve moved forward, reconnecting and supporting one another again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


\u201cMy family has played a critical role in my recovery. Without them, I might not be here now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


The Invictus Games in Vancouver Whistler, an international adaptive multi-sport competition for former and current serving military personnel who have been wounded, injured or become ill during their military service, will be held from February 8-16, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit Beyond Blue at www.beyondblue.org.au
In the event of an emergency dial triple zero (000).
A friendly ear is also available for those needing support locally at the Castlemaine Safe Space which operates Tuesdays 6.30pm-8.30pm and Saturdays 1.30pm-4pm at the Castlemaine Community House, 30 Templeton Street, Castlemaine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n