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Athlete Spotlight – Clay Grimstad: Stoic and Composed

August 21, 2021 | Story by Megan Trexler | Commander, Navy Installations Command

WASHINGTON – “Do not go gentle…” ADAN Clayton “Clay” Grindstad shared that this quote from Thomas Dylan’s best-known villanelle poem, “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.”

Grimstad shared that this quote resonates with him because of the fundamental idea that for those who actually “live out their lives” will better see how life has been bright for them. Grimstad said that the quote reminds him that he “should stay fierce and strong.”

Grimstad expressed that the Navy Wounded Warrior’s program has been a stress-relieving avenue for him during his recovery journey. 

Grimstad, a freshman Team Navy athlete, was slated to compete in three sports during the Department of Defense Warrior Games. His sports would have included archery, cycling, and swimming. Out of all the sports, Grimstad expressed that he was most looking forward to cycling.

Navy Wounded Warrior is the Navy’s sole organization for coordinating the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen and providing resources and support to their families.

The Warrior Games are a Paralympic-style competition among more than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members from all branches of the U.S. military, as well as from international armed forces. The 2021 Department of Defense Warrior Games would have been hosted at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida from September 12-22, 2021. The invitation-only event was going to feature 12 sports: archery, cycling, field, golf, indoor rowing, powerlifting, shooting (precision air), sitting volleyball, swimming, track, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. The 2021 DoD Warrior Games were canceled due to ensure the safety, health and well-being of our service members and local communities as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to affect the country.

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