Together, they've helped each other restart their lives and together they've dominated Invictus powerlifting.
Australian veterans Sarah Petchell, Tiffany White and Brigid Baker took the trifecta in the women's heavyweight powerlifting at the Invictus Games on Wednesday in a triumphant tribute to their commitment to each other.
"We've trained together, we've ridden the highs and lows together and we've just been there for each other and to get to finish the day together, nothing beats it," silver medallist White told AAP.
She says the Games helped her find herself again after she was discharged from the navy with adjustment disorder causing anxiety and a degenerative disease in her knee.
"It's given me a sense of purpose again, it's helped me re-engage in the community, find friends, find family and it's made me want to live my life again," the former Communication Information System Sailor told AAP.
Bronze medallist and athletics captain Baker was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2011 before being medically discharged in 2017.
She took up lifting six months ago and said the sport has allowed her to a be a role model for her children following struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"It's given me an opportunity to effectively restart myself," she told AAP.
"Winning bronze recognises the work that my family has done in supporting me in this journey and just literally being there. This is for them as much as it is for me."
Petchell, who has chronic feet pain and shoulder and spine problems, joined the army reserve in 1998 before moving to the regular army in 2012.
At her first Invictus she's been blown away by the inspiration it has given her.
"The Invictus Games is about people who maybe don't have it all together, who do have some chinks in the armour yet they still step up and they still put themselves out there overcoming their fears - that inspires me," she said.
Earlier in the day Sarah Sliwka won gold in the lightweight power lifting.
Sliwka said competing was her way of not only representing her country but remembering her service.
"Having my time cut in the military due to medical reasons this is just another way that I can feel like I'm part of the army again," she said.
Sliwka joined the Australian Army in 2002 and worked as a linesman before being discharged in 2006 after suffering a lower back injury as well as broken bones.
Australian Associated Press
