Behind the Scenes at the Invictus Games: Ottobock.care’s Technical Team Shares Their Experience

At the heart of the Invictus Games is a spirit of resilience, camaraderie, and triumph over adversity. But behind every athlete’s journey is a team dedicated to ensuring their performance isn’t hindered by technical challenges. Our own Ottobock.care clinicians played a critical role in keeping athletes moving, providing essential repairs, adjustments, and encouragement along the way.

We caught up with Sarah Teal, CP, LP, and Matthew Cinader, CPO, who were on the ground at the Games, working tirelessly to support the athletes. They shared their most inspiring moments, standout interactions, and lessons learned from this unforgettable experience.

What was your role at the Invictus Games, and how did you contribute to Ottobock.care’s mission there?

Sarah Teal: "I had the pleasure of supporting the prosthetic needs of the competitors. I helped the competitors maintain their freedom of movement by providing them with replacement prosthetic components and supplies that were worn or broken."

Matthew Cinader: "My role was with the technical support team. I mostly focused on prosthetic/orthotic repairs/replacements that were needed for the athletes. I also helped with some wheelchair repairs as well as technical booth breakdown at the end of the Games. We helped the athletes maintain and regain their freedom of movement by repairing their broken prostheses/orthoses. Some alignment changes were also made to help improve patient’s movement for gait as well as sport."

What was the most inspiring moment you witnessed during the Games?

Sarah Teal: "One of the most inspiring moments I witnessed was watching a competitor with visual impairment compete in the cross-country skiing competition. Prior to the event, I noticed he was always with his wife and daughter walking around the Olympic Park. At first, I didn’t realize he had visual impairment, but then I noticed how his young daughter always held his left hand, and his wife always held his right arm to help guide him. It was their system to help him navigate in public."

"During competition, I was so impressed watching him remain focused on completing the race and listening to his guide as she was skiing next to him. As he neared the finish line, his wife was cheering loudly and yelling his name. She had been following him along the course and cheering for him along the way. After he crossed the finish line, she ran to meet him and applaud him in his efforts. His wife and daughter embraced him in a congratulatory hug! It was very emotional watching the family run to him as he crossed the finish line. They were so happy in his accomplishment."

Matthew Cinader: "The standing ovation at the opening ceremony for Team Ukraine. The support for Team Ukraine was awesome!"

How did athletes react to Ottobock.care’s support and technical services?

Sarah Teal: "The athletes were so appreciative of the assistance that we provided in and out of the workshop. They were always so pleasant and kind to us while we were helping them. Many competitors said thank you by giving us candy from their country or pins from their team. The Colombian team gave us Bocadillo candy which is made from guava pulp and sugarcane. It was delicious!"

Matthew Cinader: "It was a fun atmosphere with many athletes coming in and out as they needed. Some would just come in for conversation or to see what was going on. We were always happy to interact!"

Was there a moment at the Games that truly captured the spirit of Invictus for you?

Sarah Teal: "The spirit of Invictus was demonstrated to me by watching how the Ukrainian team was received by the Invictus Games. I felt that everywhere they went, they were being seen as competitors who had recently been on the front lines of war. Everyone showed a very high regard for their team. The Ukrainian team received a standing ovation at the opening ceremony, and I witnessed several volunteers and staff showing true kindness and grace to them. I was in awe watching several of the team members walking with their prostheses with such confidence and trust, which can be something new prosthetic users have a hard time doing."

Matthew Cinader: "When working with the Brazilian athletes, they explained the difficulty of getting the appropriate prosthetic parts into Brazil in a timely manner and they were extremely thankful for the services they were provided by us during the games."

What insights will you take from this experience back to your day-to-day work?

Sarah Teal: "Overall, I was impressed with the community surrounding the Invictus Games. From the volunteers to the coaches and the support staff. Everyone was truly happy to be there."

"I also witnessed so many competitors cheering for others that were competing against them. There were times during a competition when the winning team would slow down to let the losing team score a point. Competitors wanted to swap jerseys with other teams after the competition was over to show their support of each other. The Invictus Games has shown me what true sportsmanship should look like."

Matthew Cinader: "First, make yourself aware of the games and what they are about by doing your research. Attend the games, if you get the chance. It is a life-changing experience, in a wonderful way!"

The Invictus Games embody the strength of the human spirit, and we were honored to play a role in supporting the athletes who continue to push boundaries. Whether it was repairing a prosthetic, adjusting an orthotic, or simply offering words of encouragement, every interaction made a difference.

To all the competitors who inspired us—thank you. And to the technical support team—your dedication and expertise keep athletes moving forward.