Homewood native still dominates following injury, diagnosis

Homewood’s Jennifer Schuble smoked the competition at the 2016 edition of the Invictus Games.

The games, started by Prince Harry in 2014, were held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando May 8-12. 

Schuble, a Homewood resident of 11 years, won a pair of gold medals in cycling. In the road bike time trial, she defeated her closest competitor by 29 seconds. In the road bike circuit race, she completed three more laps than the rest of the field.

The Invictus Games are designed as a way to use sports as a rehabilitation channel for people who have suffered physical or emotional injuries in the act of serving their countries and draw people in from all over the world.

“I was invited because I was a service-disabled veteran,” Schuble said. “I’m Army, and they wanted me there to represent Team USA in the cycling events and also the rowing events.”

Like every person at the Games, Schuble has her own story of how she has overcome extreme adversity.

The first of two traumatic brain injuries occurred while she was at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. She did a flip in hand-to-hand combat training and landed on her head. She reinjured herself during a run, and went to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center each time. During her second stay there, doctors noticed a spot on her brain, but she left with no conclusion as to what it was.

She made her way to the University of Alabama, where she received a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, but suffered another setback. A 2002 car accident left her with a second traumatic brain injury. In 2004, she finally received word after multiple tests that she had multiple sclerosis.

Schuble fought back time and again, even though things weren’t the same as prior to her injuries.

“I was a three-sport athlete for West Point. Things came naturally to me,” she said.

That never fazed her. She cannot run like she used to, but is still a great cycler, Schuble said.

“The hotter I get, the harder it is for me to feel my feet,” she said.

Schuble called the Invictus Games a “who’s who” of past and present government officials. President George W. Bush was the honorary chairman of the events, Vice President Joe Biden was there, and first lady Michelle Obama also made her presence known.

Schuble said she spends a great deal of time at the Lakeshore Foundation in Homewood, volunteering and working out. She is able to work on her strength, balance and coordination at the facilities, and does most of her bike riding in the Birmingham area. 

“I do volunteer work there, and I help other athletes out,” she said. “I’m the night owl, because I work, so I’m showing up after I ride my bike. I’m closing the gym.”

Schuble said the Invictus Games was an eye-opener for her, to see people from around the world who have served their country still competing any way they can.

She is also gunning for a spot in the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro later this summer. She will find out whether she has earned a spot July 3.