Listen to the story of the Army's TOP Soldier-Athlete | My Army Life: SFC Ellie Marks | U.S. Army

[Music] the US Army worldclass athlete program is a program that allows service members to take part in professional Athletics and represent not only their country but their country wall in uniform it's also a unique opportunity for people to serve through Sport and service it's very difficult you will be juggling two careers but it is incredibly rewarding WAP is a unique Challenge and it's an honor it's very different from anything I've ever experienced you are having the opportunity to pursue a passion while also aiding soldiers in their pursuit of their passion it's blending service with Sport and celebrating both sides of it I was injured in Iraq in 2010 and a part of my recovery I found the pool and there was someone who was willing to teach me how to swim there and so I found sport through injury and it was my place of Peace it was my place where I got to reset and focus on trying to remain fit for Duty in a more controlled environment but usually I'm up at 4 I do my prehab I'm in the pool or on Deck by about 6:30 we get in the pool at 7:00 I do usually about a 90-minute intensive workout in the pool and lots of physical therapy the world class athlete program has been a great supporter of mine and initially when I got here I was an unknown so it was a pretty big risk I love training I like racing so my drive to race is so that I can continue to train that's where I find my peace it's therapy every day for me I am very proud to represent ill- sick injured and wounded service members and it was very hard for me to retain fit for Duty when I first got injured so my hope is to continue to prove to the military that we deserve a place at the table and make a route for my brothers and sisters to continue service after illness sickness injury or wounds the most athletic thing I had ever done before I became an athlete was a PT test which for me was very hard at the time and I took it very seriously I feel incredibly grateful I know there's a lot of people that haven't been given the opportunities that I have so I feel indebted to them and can only really Express that by trying to make room for other service members like this hit the Subscribe button