Veteran Eugene Gold Talks About Sports as a Path to Healing

Approximately 125 Veterans will compete in a range of events, including canoe sprints, indoor climbing, powerwalking, adaptive fitness, archery, basketball free throws, horseshoes, wheelchair slalom, pickleball, boccia ball, and bowling. One of the Veteran who will compete this year is Army Veteran Eugene Gold. 

“The Koa Challenge is really just about getting out and having fun,” Gold said. “It’s not as competitive as some of the other Veteran games. I see it as a steppingstone. If I’m ready for this, then I might be ready to do some of the more competitive games next year.” 

Gold is a combat Veteran who served in Vietnam. He was in a hit-and-run accident in 1974 where he broke his neck and ended up in a wheelchair. Despite this, Gold has made the best of the life he was given. He has traveled to compete in the National Veteran Wheelchair Games hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), and later, he competed in the National Veterans Golden Aged Games (NVGAG). He is very motivated by competition, but he has also been interested to compare accessibility in different places around the United States. 

“I had a great time in Anchorage when I went there for the games,” Gold said. “You could get around anywhere in a wheelchair. I was sight-seeing and everything was so easy -there was none of the hassle you find other places- no areas that have missing ramps or high curbs with no spot of wheelchairs to get up.” 

Living in Hawaii, Gold has had to contend with a lack of accessibility that he says has limited the things he can do. Gold was recently in Palo Alto to visit the spinal clinic due to some health complications. He said the accessibility in Palo Alto was so much better that he was able to do much more than he can at home. Gold’s recent challenges with his health left him unable to participate in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games or NVGAG for several years. 

“I started with the paralyzed Veteran games in ’83 and went most years until my recent health complications,” Gold said. “If I can do well in the Koa Challenge, I think that will prove that I’m ready to start training for some of the more competitive games in 2025. I’d really like to get back to it.” 

If things go well at the Koa Challenge, Gold has his eye on the Paralyzed Veterans of America Games -recently renamed to be the National Veteran Wheelchair Games- in Minnesota in 2025. He’s been to Minneapolis before and loved the mall of America, which he said is ‘like Disneyland for adults.’ He’s also hoping to attend the 2025 NVGAG in Memphis, Tennessee. He plans to train seriously in the months to come and then see how it goes. 

“There’s more help for the Vets that travel to compete in Veteran sports competitions now than there used to be,” Gold said. “It’s still hard to travel, but I think it’s easier for us than it used to be.” 

Gold says his favorite place that he competed was Puerto Rico, both because of the accessibility, and because of the respect they showed for Veterans. The athletes even had a police escort on their way to the games! Gold hopes Hawaii will have the same level of accessibility someday. 

“It’s not just for disabled Veterans,” Gold said. “Everyone is going to get old, and ramps and railing help the elderly as much as they help me. And what about a young mother trying to push a stroller? No one thinks about how many people are really affected, but the truth is, accessibility helps everyone.” 

The Koa Challenge Veteran Games registration for 2024 is closed. However, spectators are welcome to cheer on our Veterans competitors. Veterans who are interested in participating next year should talk with their primary care physician about a referral to recreation therapy. For those not yet enrolled in VA health care, call 1-800-214-1306 to enroll. 

The Koa Challenge Veteran Games events will be held at the following locations: 

• Opening Ceremony Nov. 12, 2024, 8 a.m. – noon (HST) at Ke’ehi Lagoon.
• Canoe sprints Nov. 12, 2024, at Ke’ehi Lagoon.
• Indoor climbing Nov. 13, 2024, 8a.m. – noon (HST) at HiClimb Gym.
• Powerwalking Nov. 13, 2024, 1-4 p.m. (HST) at the Hickam Track.
• Adaptive fitness, archery, basketball free-throws, horseshoes, and wheelchair slalom Nov. 14, 2024, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (HST) at American Veterans (AMVETS) West Oahu Vet Center.
• Pickleball and boccia ball Nov. 15, 2024, 8 a.m. – noon (HST) at Ewa Mahiko.
• Bowling Nov. 15, 2024, 1 – 4 p.m. (HST) at Barber’s Point.
• Cycling and closing ceremony Nov. 16, 2024, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (HST)at the Daniel K. Akaka VA Clinic.