A retired Navy veteran from Effingham is heading to San Antonio later this month to compete on one of the largest stages in the world of adaptive sports.
Retired Navy Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class James Shoemaker, will be among more than 200 seriously wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans competing at the 2026 Warrior Games. This event runs from June 13th through June 20th in San Antonio, Texas. Shoemaker will represent the Navy in four different events: archery, sitting volleyball, swimming, and track, while competing against other athletes from the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Special Operations Command.
Shoemaker’s journey to San Antonio is as compelling as the competition itself. He joined the Navy in 2005, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and stepfather. His years of service gave him the chance to see the world, develop skills, and build friendships that have lasted a lifetime. But, like many other veterans, his path took a difficult turn, and getting back to a place of strength wasn’t all that easy.
He was initially reluctant to get involved in adaptive sports, but for Shoemaker, it was a desire to set a healthy example for his children that changed his thinking. He wanted to show them that hardships don’t have to be dead ends. He found wheelchair basketball first, using it as a way to reclaim part of the life he had before his injury, and added three more sports along the journey to recovery.
Now in its 16th year, the Warrior Games is one of the most prestigious adaptive sports competitions in the country. Hosted this year by the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command, the competition is meant to celebrate the resilience and recovery of wounded service members and veterans, using athletics to drive healing and renew purpose.
This year’s Warrior Games also carries added significance as the Navy marks its contributions to the nation’s defense during America’s 250th anniversary of independence. For more information, visit www.navy.mil/navy-250.
During the 2026 Navy Adaptive Sports Team Trials at Naval Base San Diego, California, March 3, 2026. The participating Sailors and Coast Guardsmen are seeking to join Team Navy to compete in the 2026 Warrior Games in San Antonio, Texas, in June. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Healy)
