TAMPA, Fla. — Some coaches train, Jamie Sclater inspires.

“It’s just a burning flame inside all of us,” Sclater said.   

The Tampa Bay resident is a retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class. He is volunteering his time at Bobby Hicks Swimming Pool in Tampa to show injured soldiers how to swim past the competition for the upcoming Warrior Games. 

“We want to just make sure that we take care of each other,” Sclater said.

Sclater knows what it’s like to swim upstream. With five spinal cord related injuries and periods of depression, Sclater is a wounded warrior too. 

“At one point, I wasn’t able to use my legs,” Sclater said . “I had to use leg braces and regain the entire use of my right arm.”

With surgeries and support, Sclater powered through. In fact, a few years ago, Sclater was prepping for the warrior games too. 

“I wanted to take part in something that is truly special and it really helped me through the rehabilitation process,” Sclater said. 

Racking up gold, silver, and bronze medals, Sclater refused to let his injuries define his ability. And although he doesn’t get in the water much anymore, Sclater dove in just to give back. He’s inspiring others to defy their battle scars as well. 

“Just go out there and have a great time,” Sclater advised the athletes. “Enjoy your teammates, enjoy the community that we’re a part of, and hopefully one day down the road you’ll be able to pay it forward to someone else as well.”