Steven Bortle

CPT Steve Bortle enlisted in the Marine Corps directly after high school and served for 6 years. In 2002, Steve switched to the Army Reserves where he was deployed to Iraq in 2015 while serving with the 100th BN 442 IN. CPT Bortle later retired from the Army National Guard in 2015. While serving on a deployment to Afghanistan, he tore both of his shoulders and developed an autoimmune disease. After returning from Afghanistan, he was placed in the SRU at Schofield Barracks, HI. At the SRU, CPT Bortle was introduced to adaptive sports while he went through his recovery. Before he was medically discharged he competed at the Warrior Games in 2015. Then, in 2018, he was invited to the Army Trials where he made Team Army for Warrior Game’s 2018 but that same year also made Team U.S.for the Invictus Games. While competing in the long jump at the Invictus Games, CPT Bortle tripped and fell breaking his hip. Eventually, he would need a hip replacement. Through adaptive sports and discussions at his SRU about being resilient, CPT Bortle was able to complete his first full Ironman Triathlon 5 months after his hip replacement surgery. Since retiring, CPT Bortle has become a high school teacher, a coach, and a role model. Currently, he has been focusing on working out in the gym, gaining weight, working on his bench press max, and hopes to compete one day in a body-building competition.

What does the Invictus Games mean to you?

It is an incredible honor to be part of Team U.S. Since I broke my hip during Invictus 2018 in Australia, I feel like this event brings me full circle as an athlete. My biggest goal is to get gold in the men’s master division in rowing. The winter sports competitions will take me out of my comfort zone, and I’m looking forward to seeing what I can accomplish.