Warrior gears up for 'Games'

Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro, 342nd Training Squadron, steers his custom made recumbent bike past Forbes Hall during a training ride at the Lackland Training Annex April 5. The recumbent bike 10K is one of five events Sergeant Del Toro is preparing for in anticipation of his participation in the 2011 Wounded Warrior Games May 16-21. (U.S. Air Force photo/Robbin Cresswell)

Published April 14, 2011
By Patrick Desmond
502nd Air Base Wing OL-A Public Affairs

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Wounded warrior Israel Del Toro continues to improve his quality of life by way of different professional and sporting mechanisms. The latest, a custom-made Catrike Expedition, takes his love of competition to the next level.

Returning to active duty despite disabling injuries received during combat, Del Toro trained to become an instructor, graduated from the Gaylor NCO Academy, and most recently, again qualified for the Armed Forces' Olympic-style competition, the Wounded Warrior Games, May 16-21.

The acquisition of his own racing recumbent bike, specifically designed for Del Toro's body, gives the wounded warrior an edge he didn't have during his first attempt at the 10K ride in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"Last year, I had to leave the gear in second the whole time," Del Toro said, not able to manipulate the gearshift on the left handle.

This time, the gearshifts for both front and back tires are located on the right handle of the bike's carbon-fiber frame, making shifting as easy as flipping a switch on top or twisting the handle.

In addition to a custom fit, Del Toro said having the bike allows for more time to train beyond the allotted week given to all competitors prior to the games.

But Del Toro is not merely satisfied with one event. This year, he's adding the 100-meter dash and the air rifle competition events to his repertoire.

He will also be returning to the bronze-medal winning Air Force volleyball and wheelchair basketball teams.

Despite five events, pushing himself is nothing new to the former high school and current Airman athlete.

"I'm challenging myself to see how much better I can get," he said, "to see if I can continue to get better over the years."

Accordingly, his training week is stacked: three 10K bike rides, a few runs, and weekends spent at the shooting range.

He's also extrinsically motivated by the atmosphere of the games and the other competitors.

"People say they get inspired by me," Del Toro said. "But I get inspired by the other servicemembers and what they accomplish."

In an essay to the Air Force team outlining why he should be accepted, Del Toro described what it means to be at the games.

"You're there for your teammates, for good and bad," he added about the 24 other Airmen he'll be joining.

Being a teammate, he continued, means giving others "praise when they're doing good and telling the truth even though sometimes it hurts."

And finally, Del Toro said there's another draw to returning to the Olympic training facility in Colorado.

"The roar of the crowd," Del Toro remembers. "That's what I miss. It makes me feel just a little bit like I used to prior to the injury."

Del Toro continues teaching as a Tactical Air Control Party instructor and will continue training during the weeks leading up to the 2011 Wounded Warrior Games. He will gain a sense of the paralympic-style competition before the military games when he competes at the Texas Regional Games in San Antonio April 15.