It’s day four of the DoD Warrior Games, and the competitions are in full swing. The Colorado Springs sunset paints the sky in pinks and purples you usually only see in postcards. Across the University of Colorado campus, multiple venues buzz with energy, like the Reid Gym, home to sitting volleyball and indoor rowing.
From outside the gym doors, you can hear the roar of the crowd, a mix of friends, family, and teammates cheering on dozens of athletes. One of the loudest voices belongs to Rhoda “Ro-Ro” Bargas. Decked out head-to-toe in Air Force blue—pom poms in hand, face stickers sparkling, and a sign held high, Rhoda cheers with the force of someone who believes every win is a shared victory.
Even with her own events coming up on the schedule: shot put, wheelchair racing, and sitting volleyball, she made time to celebrate her teammates. When her roommate won her rowing heat, Rhoda’s smile beamed from the stands. “When they succeed, I succeed,” she said, eyes welling with emotion. “When they win, I win. It means everything to me.”
Rhoda’s path to the Warrior Games began far from Colorado Springs. Born in the Philippines, she spent her early childhood in a stilt hut, sleeping under a mosquito net and pumping water from a well. Her first brand-new toy, a baby doll, came courtesy of Toys for Tots during a holiday visit from the Marines and Navy. Years later, she would grow up in Pensacola, Florida, raised by her Navy veteran stepfather.
Her military connection shaped her identity and resilience. But the road wasn’t always easy. Rhoda carries “invisible wounds” from her service, struggles that for years she kept hidden. “I couldn’t even tell my story for over 20 years,” she shared. “I suffered in silence. Now I speak because I don’t want anyone else to feel alone.”
At this year’s Warrior Games, Rhoda served as co-captain for Team Air Force, a role she didn’t expect but embraces fully. Voted in by her peers, she’s proud to be the team’s “mama bear,” the one who rallies spirits and fosters unity.
“To me, they’re a second family,” she says. “Adaptive sports gave me the confidence I never thought I had, and I want to pay that forward to the new warriors coming through.”
Her own competitive spirit is undeniable. Beyond the Warrior Games, Rhoda competes in powerlifting, already holding four state records and aiming for six more this year. “Lifting has helped me work through anxiety, frustration, and even anger. It’s given me peace.”
Through Hope For The Warriors Warrior’s Wish program, Rhoda will soon have her dream home gym, a safe space where she can train without anxiety triggers. “Sometimes I get as far as the parking lot of a gym and can’t go in,” she admits. “Having this space at home means I can keep moving forward, be a better mom, a better wife, and a better friend.”
She knows firsthand the life-saving power of sport and community. “Because of working out and adaptive sports, I haven’t had a suicidal thought in two and a half years,” she says. “That’s everything.”
For Rhoda, the Warrior Games and Adaptive Sports aren’t just about personal achievements, it’s about growing and finding a new sense of purpose and community. “My husband and daughter see the change in me now,” she reflects. “They see me happy, competing, and surrounded by teammates who understand me. They get it now, and that’s beautiful.”
As she continues to compete, break records, and lead by example, Rhoda “Ro-Ro” Bargas reminds us that victory isn’t just measured in medals, but in the lives you inspire along the way.
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