0:00:02 > 0:00:06- You must be proud of this. - I'm hugely proud of it.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08You know, it's a massive team effort.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10The second Invictus Games coming up,
0:00:10 > 0:00:14a lot of ex-military personnel taking part,
0:00:14 > 0:00:16it's very clear when I see you with the military guys
0:00:16 > 0:00:18that there's a very special bond there.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22I've always viewed myself as Captain Wales first, Prince Harry second.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24I spent ten years in the Army, wearing the same uniform
0:00:24 > 0:00:27as these guys, as far as they're concerned, I'm one of them.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30You share something, you share something very unique.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Some people come to the end of their service,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35- like, you got to choose that you were actually moving on...- Yes.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38..and so you had some time to prepare, but not everybody does.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40They get sort of ripped from that service and
0:00:40 > 0:00:44that's incredibly difficult for them to come to terms with, isn't it?
0:00:44 > 0:00:48It is really difficult to be cut down literally in your prime.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Now you're being told you can't serve your country, you can't
0:00:51 > 0:00:53do the career that you love, and you can't be with your mates.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Where does that leave anybody?
0:00:55 > 0:00:58You are an individual that has chosen to serve your country,
0:00:58 > 0:01:01that to me makes you worthy of being part of
0:01:01 > 0:01:03something as amazing as the Invictus Games.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09Invictus is... It's an opportunity for me to give something back.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15This is the story of five ex-soldiers.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Each one has lost something.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20For some that may be a limb,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24for others it's their peace of mind or self-worth.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26It's affected all of us, the whole family.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30But what they haven't lost is their fighting spirit.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32I want to win, I want to win gold.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37Now their fight is for a place at this year's Games in Orlando.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41The road will be tough, with highs...
0:01:41 > 0:01:42and lows...
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Oh, it's still fresh in my eyes.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47..as they push themselves to the limit...
0:01:47 > 0:01:49If you really want this, you've got to work hard!
0:01:49 > 0:01:52..to prove they have what it takes to represent their country
0:01:52 > 0:01:55at the Invictus Games.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13- TV COMMENTATOR:- 'Now, entering the square, the British Armed Forces!'
0:02:13 > 0:02:15This was a laugh.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18It's been well over a year since the last Invictus Games
0:02:18 > 0:02:23and Prince Harry is meeting up with some of the champions of 2014.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Look at you in rig! I didn't know you own a uniform.
0:02:26 > 0:02:27Don't try and drag me into it.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29- What is that in your head? - What a hat!
0:02:29 > 0:02:32THEY ALL LAUGH
0:02:35 > 0:02:37This is where it all started,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39this was one of the most amazing things ever,
0:02:39 > 0:02:43but it was too small and it needed to be taken to a bigger stage.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46And from my perspective it was important to get
0:02:46 > 0:02:48the rest of the world watching people's lives being changed
0:02:48 > 0:02:51through sport, literally there in front of you.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56- PRESENTER:- 'In London today for the first Invictus Games,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58'the brainchild, of course, of Prince Harry.'
0:02:58 > 0:03:01'Yes, and some of the competitors have actually lost limbs...'
0:03:01 > 0:03:03That's a nice touch.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04This was one of the points where
0:03:04 > 0:03:07we started to get a feeling of how enormous this was going to be.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10I was like, "Whoa, this is pretty serious now."
0:03:10 > 0:03:13- Then you did it on Buckingham Palace as well.- Buckingham Palace as well.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15- Just to really rub it in. - Did you call that favour in?
0:03:15 > 0:03:18- That was a favour called in. - THEY ALL LAUGH
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- TV COMMENTATOR:- 'All eyes are on captain Dave Henson in this one.'
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- Dave looking very serious there, actually.- I'm a serious man.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27You used to be.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29STARTING GUN FIRES
0:03:29 > 0:03:31No, I don't think I was nervous at this point.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Yeah, I knew I had this.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36'Look at how he's going here.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38'Smooth as you like,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41'and that's a great win. He's going to just hang onto this...'
0:03:42 > 0:03:44"Get off me!"
0:03:44 > 0:03:46So rank.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48THEY ALL LAUGH
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- That was a good little one, that. - What, the old classic...
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Finish together, all get a gold.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- COMMENTATOR:- 'And the three of them have decided that
0:03:59 > 0:04:01'they will come across the line together here.'
0:04:01 > 0:04:04You were in the middle, right? That was us both pulling you then.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- Were you even peddling at this point?- No.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09I mean, going back to you, Vicey, you specifically asked me
0:04:09 > 0:04:16- to design a competition/award specifically for mouth darts.- Yes.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18And even then... even then you failed.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20You came third out of three.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Every day was, like, upping, upping, upping, upping.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32- By the time we got to the closing concert, I was an emotional...- Yeah.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- It was a very sandy environment. - Yes.- Sandy!
0:04:37 > 0:04:39From the front to the back,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42one, two, three... Go!
0:04:42 > 0:04:44CHEERING
0:04:46 > 0:04:49Welcome to the stage, Team Great Britain!
0:04:49 > 0:04:51CHEERING
0:04:51 > 0:04:53That was ridiculous.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59This was another reason why we pushed for it in London that year,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03in 2014, because we just knew that if anybody was going to catapult
0:05:03 > 0:05:06this onto the international stage, it would be the British public.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08And the British public came out and gave it everything.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Now the trials are coming up,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13it's already starting to explode again like it did last time.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17I'm really excited to see what kind of magic we get from this one now.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18I think Orlando is going to be huge.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Even the medal winners of 2014
0:05:22 > 0:05:24will have to earn their place on this year's team.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29At the upcoming UK trials they'll be joined by over 100 new faces.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34It'll be three days of intense competition...
0:05:35 > 0:05:37..covering ten sports,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40with just 100 places up for grabs.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44CHEERING
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Without you guys here, our friends and our family,
0:05:50 > 0:05:52we'd be in pieces at home.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56With your support, we're here in front of you today,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58kicking the arse out of life!
0:05:58 > 0:06:02- Thank you! - CHEERING
0:06:16 > 0:06:21Chris was just 20 years old when his life changed for ever.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25ALARM BEEPS
0:06:25 > 0:06:28I woke up that day and I knew something was going to happen,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31but I was there to do the job so we had to go out and do it.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33I stepped in the wrong place at the wrong time,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36won the lottery that nobody wants to win.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44Chris was serving in Afghanistan with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
0:06:44 > 0:06:46when, out on a routine patrol,
0:06:46 > 0:06:48he stepped on an explosive device.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51'I felt I was in the air for a while
0:06:51 > 0:06:54'and landed in the crater where the device was buried.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56'Took out both my legs on impact.'
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Good girl.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04'My memories are crystal clear.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07'I remember getting dragged out of the crater that I was in.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09'I remember I tried to self tourniquet.
0:07:09 > 0:07:13'It was all bloody, like bones was hanging out.'
0:07:15 > 0:07:17'I remember waking up in hospital,
0:07:17 > 0:07:20'my mam was in bits, my sister was in bits.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24'So my dad, like, he didn't shed a tear as such,
0:07:24 > 0:07:27but I knew, the look on his face, that it was bad.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34At first the reaction was, "Why? Why my family?"
0:07:34 > 0:07:38But then you're seeing some of the states that other soldiers were in
0:07:38 > 0:07:40and you were just so thankful.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Nine days later I was 21.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Just knowing that I was a 21-year-old lad
0:07:45 > 0:07:48who'd just been blown up, lost his legs, I thought that was it.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51I was like, "What's the point living?" sort of thing.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53And that was when I started drinking loads.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58I was told by people, "You need to curb it, you need to stop it."
0:07:59 > 0:08:03"What? Don't be stupid, I'm 21. I'm just being a 21-year-old."
0:08:03 > 0:08:06I wasn't getting the physio or the rehab that I needed
0:08:06 > 0:08:09because I was too hungover to go to those sessions.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14It was when Chris got involved with a charity that introduces
0:08:14 > 0:08:16injured soldiers to scuba-diving
0:08:16 > 0:08:19that he started to get his life back on track.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22I'm like, "Hang on a minute, I've just been blown up,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24"I've just lost both my legs, and you want
0:08:24 > 0:08:26"to take me out scuba-diving?" I went, "Are you mad?"
0:08:31 > 0:08:33I went in, the pain stopped.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37My head stopped just bothering me,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39my feet weren't tickling,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42I was swimming along with, like, fully able-bodied people.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48I got out the water, I was in tears,
0:08:48 > 0:08:50it just changed my life.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Yes, it dawned on me that I'm not dead until I'm dead,
0:08:53 > 0:08:56and that is it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Just getting you warm, mate, just getting you warm.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Wait! That was off.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Hole in your racket, mate.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28I'm not breathing hard, don't worry.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Just as well I'm not wearing a pulse alarm.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33You know, you come out to just play a fun game...
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- CHRIS LAUGHS - Competitiveness, mate.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37- You've got to win. - You've GOT to win.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Are you feeling that again now that you're going for the team?
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Competition is fierce and I'll do my damnedest to get on the squad.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45I want to win, I want to win gold.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Incoming!
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Dropped it in the corner.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57You've got that little smug little grin you've got as well, yeah!
0:10:01 > 0:10:04You've also represented your country in the Warrior Games, haven't you?
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Yeah, I done the Warrior Games last year
0:10:06 > 0:10:09and just getting a taste for that, I was like, "I want more of this,"
0:10:09 > 0:10:12and then it just kept me on the straight and narrow.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15At the American Warrior Games, Chris competed
0:10:15 > 0:10:18in volleyball, basketball and rugby.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21He plans to enter multiple sports again,
0:10:21 > 0:10:23at this year's Invictus trials.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Right, let's go.
0:10:25 > 0:10:26Medic!
0:10:33 > 0:10:34Oh-oh!
0:10:35 > 0:10:37- Aargh!- Yes!
0:10:39 > 0:10:42- Yeah, that's where I look really nice.- Nice camera angle!
0:10:42 > 0:10:44No power.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47- Had you fixed this yet?- Fixed?
0:10:47 > 0:10:49The whole head so far out of the water thing?
0:10:49 > 0:10:51It's the waves!
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Friends Jen and Nerys are also competing at the upcoming trials.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Nerys is going for wheelchair basketball
0:10:59 > 0:11:01and Jen, wheelchair racing.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05- It was amazing, wasn't it?- It was, yeah, my heart is in my race chair.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06That's where I love to be.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09Although both were medics in the British Army,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12it was after injury that their paths crossed,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15when they took part in the Arch To Arc challenge.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19- NEWSREADER:- '24 wounded,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22'injured and sick military personnel and veterans
0:11:22 > 0:11:25'are taking part in what has been called the hardest triathlon
0:11:25 > 0:11:27'anywhere in the world.'
0:11:27 > 0:11:30'This is some effort, they've just finished nearly 90 miles
0:11:30 > 0:11:32'from Marble Arch to Dover,
0:11:32 > 0:11:34'and are currently swimming the English Channel.'
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Jen has limited use of her legs
0:11:37 > 0:11:39and Nerys is paralysed from the chest down,
0:11:39 > 0:11:43but this didn't stop them becoming the first-ever women's team
0:11:43 > 0:11:45to complete the 300 mile race.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48It was. This must have been the jellyfish swim.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Evil little things.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53I started singing to them, until I realised that when I sung to them
0:11:53 > 0:11:56that one got in my mouth and stung the inside of my lip.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58I was like, "No more singing."
0:11:58 > 0:12:01I was just like, "I'm not letting floppy bits of jelly
0:12:01 > 0:12:03"stopping me from getting to France."
0:12:03 > 0:12:06I was like, "Get out of my way!"
0:12:06 > 0:12:10- Loving the hills.- Awesome. - Loving the hills.- Yeah.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14What is it about military people that they have to go off
0:12:14 > 0:12:16and beast themselves, and even if they lose limbs,
0:12:16 > 0:12:18they take it even more extreme?
0:12:18 > 0:12:21I think it's about proving to yourself, "Right,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24"I was the meanest," you know, "I was the meanest guy around,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27"I was superfit, now look at me, I'm now stuck in a wheelchair.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31"What can I do to prove to myself and prove to everybody else
0:12:31 > 0:12:33"that I'm still the person that I used to be?"
0:12:33 > 0:12:35So it's about redefining yourself.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37CHEERING
0:12:38 > 0:12:41Being part of the Arch To Arc,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44just...it gave me confidence that I didn't actually know was in me.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46CHEERING
0:12:47 > 0:12:48It was just amazing.
0:12:48 > 0:12:54I think for the first time I didn't feel like a disabled athlete.
0:12:59 > 0:13:04Major Jen Warren dedicated her career to saving the lives
0:13:04 > 0:13:06of those serving their country on the front line.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10I loved being in the Army, I loved the challenges
0:13:10 > 0:13:12and the sort of unpredictability,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15and, you know, I still miss that.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18I went out to Afghanistan in '06/'07
0:13:18 > 0:13:21as a general duties doctor.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26It was amazing because it was great to kind of feel that you were
0:13:26 > 0:13:29doing something to help the lads that were out there.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33It's crazy to think I went through that experience unscathed,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36and then have an accident where you just...
0:13:36 > 0:13:38kind of taken out by a kid.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42Jen was on holiday after returning from Afghanistan,
0:13:42 > 0:13:44when a group of skiers ran into her.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48She was left with a badly broken leg, in need of a bone graft.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Complications led to severe nerve damage,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53leaving Jen with limited use of her legs,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56and chronic pain for the rest of her life.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00All of a sudden, you know, I couldn't do my job in the Army
0:14:00 > 0:14:02and I just...I felt really useless.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06It took me a long time to come to terms with what had happened,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10but I've never been someone to walk away from anything.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Sadly Jen's medical career in the Army was over,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24but she was determined to continue her training
0:14:24 > 0:14:27as an anaesthetist in the NHS.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32With my chair, people assume that I'm a lost patient or, you know,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35if I try and log-on one of the computers people will be like,
0:14:35 > 0:14:37"Oh, what are you doing?"
0:14:37 > 0:14:38And it's like, "My work!"
0:14:38 > 0:14:43When I first started going into work I would find it quite difficult
0:14:43 > 0:14:46talking to patients because it would remind me
0:14:46 > 0:14:51of how I felt in that situation, but I genuinely believe that
0:14:51 > 0:14:54I'm a better doctor because of what happened to me.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02- Right, where's your shoesies? Can you find your shoesies?- Yeah!
0:15:02 > 0:15:06'I don't think anyone finds being a parent easy.'
0:15:06 > 0:15:07Come on, sausage, this way.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09'For me it's quite hard.'
0:15:09 > 0:15:12You've been a good girl, haven't you?
0:15:12 > 0:15:15'I've got challenges that are different, but'
0:15:15 > 0:15:18they're not necessarily bigger or harder, they're just different.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20We're going over a bump, are you ready?
0:15:20 > 0:15:22- Bump, bump!- Bump.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Yeah, let's go to the park.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34'People say, "Oh, I'll just pop to the shops," or "I'll just pop out here," '
0:15:34 > 0:15:39and that's what I hate, I can't pop anywhere.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43'When I try and walk places I find it incredibly difficult,
0:15:43 > 0:15:44'I'm very slow.'
0:15:45 > 0:15:47We're so late.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Yeah, we're often late, aren't we?
0:15:53 > 0:15:57'I'm literally limited to sort of five to ten metres.'
0:15:57 > 0:16:00You try and live your life where you can walk five to ten metres,
0:16:00 > 0:16:01without getting tired.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03- Whee! - THEY LAUGH
0:16:04 > 0:16:09'It's quite scary having a toddler that can walk and I don't want
0:16:09 > 0:16:12'to put her in danger, you know, taking her to a play park and having
0:16:12 > 0:16:14'her fall off something because I wasn't there to catch her.'
0:16:14 > 0:16:17Right, you must, must hold on.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18Be very careful.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22I was just frightened, really, it took quite a lot of confidence.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- Just frightened.- I was frightened. Yes, Mummy was frightened.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Whoosh! Are you holding on?
0:16:30 > 0:16:32'I look at her legs and I feel quite jealous.'
0:16:33 > 0:16:36It's funny cos, you know, she's a toddler, I shouldn't...
0:16:36 > 0:16:38I shouldn't have those feelings, but I do.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Push, push, push.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Jen is in training for the wheelchair racing event
0:17:02 > 0:17:05at the UK Invictus trials.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10Sport is what started getting me out of the anger
0:17:10 > 0:17:11and frustration of my life.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19You can tap into that anger, channel it,
0:17:19 > 0:17:20you know, beating the wheels.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28I don't think about my injury, I don't think about anything
0:17:28 > 0:17:31when I'm in this thing, other than, "Oh, my God, can I stop?"
0:17:33 > 0:17:37It really just helped me change the way I view things
0:17:37 > 0:17:39and see things as more positive.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48- PRESENTER:- 'The President and First Lady were treated to
0:17:48 > 0:17:49'a royal visit at the White House.'
0:17:49 > 0:17:52'Prince Harry is here to help kick off the run-up
0:17:52 > 0:17:55'to the 2016 Invictus Games.'
0:17:55 > 0:17:56APPLAUSE
0:17:58 > 0:18:01- TANNOY:- 'The First Lady, Michelle Obama!'
0:18:01 > 0:18:04There's no official medals table in the Invictus Games,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06but the UK finished top of it last time.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09'His Royal Highness, Prince Harry!'
0:18:09 > 0:18:11This year the Americans are looking to make the most
0:18:11 > 0:18:13of their home advantage.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15How's everybody doing?
0:18:15 > 0:18:18All right, ladies, Prince Harry is here,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20- don't act like you don't notice. - LAUGHTER
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Come on, come on!
0:18:22 > 0:18:25This is truly an amazing, wonderful event,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28full of fierce competition,
0:18:28 > 0:18:30incredible athleticism,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33and truly inspiring stories.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36We could not be more proud of all of you.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40And now it is my pleasure to introduce our guest of honour,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43and I guess I should also apologise to him in advance
0:18:43 > 0:18:46for all the gold medals that America will win in Orlando.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51CHEERING
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Hello, everyone.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57The Invictus Games seeks to change perceptions
0:18:57 > 0:18:59of physical and mental injury.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02One thing we have to talk about more is breaking down these barriers
0:19:02 > 0:19:07around so-called invisible injuries, like post-traumatic stress,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10just as we have for physical injuries like the loss of a limb.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14This fear of coming forward as a result of the stigma which surrounds
0:19:14 > 0:19:18mental health is one of the greatest challenges that veterans face today.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22This is your brain, Tom?
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Yeah, I was surprised there was one on there, to be honest, but...
0:19:25 > 0:19:27there is one on there.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30'Tom served with the RAF for 26 years.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32'He was diagnosed
0:19:32 > 0:19:35'with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2011.'
0:19:35 > 0:19:40Can we see on there where Tom's brain has been affected by PTSD?
0:19:40 > 0:19:44Yeah, around this area here is the amygdala, and that's a fuse box,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48that's where the facts, sensations and emotions
0:19:48 > 0:19:51get put together into a short-term memory,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55and then normally all that goes into one place in the brain,
0:19:55 > 0:19:57which is the memory bank, as it were.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00What happens with PTSD is that the fuse box blows,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02it doesn't work properly,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04and your mind doesn't do any filing in memory.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Later on, the rule is that the mind will try to file,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10so that's why you get intrusive memories, you get nightmares
0:20:10 > 0:20:13and flashbacks, which initially at least are replays, actual replays
0:20:13 > 0:20:16of what happened, and that's what PTSD is, it's like a stuck record.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20So, when an episode happens, you actually get clear visual...
0:20:20 > 0:20:23The images do, they drop in, it's like a...
0:20:23 > 0:20:25literally like a photograph dropping in.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28And it's intense, it affects your body, you tense up,
0:20:28 > 0:20:33it's sweats, um, and you're shaking, it's like a fear reaction.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Then you come out of it and you're absolutely devastated.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Tom's job during his tour in Afghanistan
0:20:40 > 0:20:44was to repatriate British soldiers killed in action.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50At the time, you cope with it, because you're doing a job.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54and it's such an important role that you do your best.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Being in that military environment, which was, you know,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01a tough environment to be in, you didn't show any emotion...
0:21:03 > 0:21:06..and so, I became emotionally numb.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10But when Tom returned home, these experiences caught up with him.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17He started suffering flashbacks.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24Seeing repatriations on TV would cause an emotional reaction.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Maybe it might be music I might hear that reminded me
0:21:27 > 0:21:30of being back in, you know, Iraq or Afghanistan.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35It's a bit like a lightning strike, you know, you never know
0:21:35 > 0:21:38when they're going to happen.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40And just the isolation that you go through.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43I couldn't have love, I couldn't have happiness,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45all these normal emotions that you have.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48And that's the really scary bit.
0:21:50 > 0:21:56Tom's distinguished career included tours in the Falklands, Iraq
0:21:56 > 0:22:00and Afghanistan. He was awarded an MBE for his exemplary service.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05I'd been very sporty as a child and also then
0:22:05 > 0:22:07joining the military, I had done a number of sports.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10I've run the London Marathon, I used to do some boxing.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13And all of a sudden, I stopped.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Tom's condition worsened as he started suffering seizures
0:22:16 > 0:22:19triggered by his PTSD.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23I had the diagnosis, put onto strong medication,
0:22:23 > 0:22:27and it did nothing, it did absolutely nothing.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29It was probably two to three years that I was, you know,
0:22:29 > 0:22:32really not functioning, I was just existing.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38But now, Tom has set his sights on a place in this year's UK team.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45At the upcoming trials, he'll be trying out for shot put,
0:22:45 > 0:22:48discus and rowing.
0:22:50 > 0:22:55And the long road back to fitness begins in Tom's outdoor gym.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58The Invictus Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03So I'm determined to get myself fitter and stronger
0:23:03 > 0:23:06so that I can be the best that I can on the day.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21One method Tom uses to process images related to his PTSD
0:23:21 > 0:23:23is art therapy.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31- Doing the first one is the key, I think.- Yeah.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34That's what helped me, I think, was getting that first painting down.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37It was like opening a door in the brain, you know,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39- it was like a key...- Yeah. - ..opening the door,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41then all of a sudden, it's just...
0:23:41 > 0:23:43You know, it was five, then I did ten
0:23:43 > 0:23:45and then 15 and 20, you know,
0:23:45 > 0:23:49then 30 and 40, and I think it's about 70 canvases I've done so far.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51- HE CHUCKLES - Yeah.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Tom's been painting for two years now.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58But for air trooper Chris Jones, today is his first time.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01I expect you're going to tell me that you haven't done art
0:24:01 > 0:24:03since you were six?
0:24:03 > 0:24:05- No, 16.- 16?- Yeah.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08That means you're an expert, then.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Not according to the F that I got, no!
0:24:11 > 0:24:14You can just paint something straight out of your mind,
0:24:14 > 0:24:16just paint straight onto the canvas.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18- I wouldn't paint out of MY mind!- No?
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Chris left the Army in 1998.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28He is one of the many veterans who suffers from both physical
0:24:28 > 0:24:30and psychological scars.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37The initial injury was caused whilst I was on a training exercise.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41I broke my left foot and tore the Achilles tendon.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46And that, compounded by the other injuries that
0:24:46 > 0:24:49I sustained subsequently, has left me
0:24:49 > 0:24:54with having somewhere between 40% and 50% reduced mobility in my legs.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59For me, the physical injuries, you just accept them, you know
0:24:59 > 0:25:02what your limitations are and aren't and you just crack on.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04But when this isn't working properly, you don't know
0:25:04 > 0:25:07where you're going to be, one minute from the next.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11I absolutely loved being a soldier,
0:25:11 > 0:25:14it was all I'd ever wanted to do since I was a tiny little chap.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Once I was a soldier and I was serving, I couldn't get enough.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23The military spend a lot of time and money
0:25:23 > 0:25:28training you to be a soldier and stop being a civilian.
0:25:28 > 0:25:33To then go from being a soldier to a civilian...
0:25:33 > 0:25:37- HE SNAPS HIS FINGERS - ..in a single day,
0:25:37 > 0:25:40that pride was just wiped away, it was gone.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46But at the same time, you feel like you're still that, you know,
0:25:46 > 0:25:50supremely fit, phenomenally capable, highly trained individual.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53You get that clash in your head,
0:25:53 > 0:25:55it's a very difficult thing to live with.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58- TOM:- And that's your first time you've painted...?
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Yeah, it's the first time.
0:26:00 > 0:26:01- I've surprised myself.- Yeah.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05- You know, to capture, you know, the way the waves fall in and...- Yeah.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07..then the colours, is stunning.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12This was the first painting I did.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14So, that was me on tour.
0:26:14 > 0:26:15Doing the re-pats.
0:26:15 > 0:26:20It was a very humble experience, so, you know, to have to do that job.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23- Yeah.- You know...
0:26:27 > 0:26:29- You all right, mate? - TEARFULLY:- Yeah, good.
0:26:39 > 0:26:40- TEARFULLY:- Yeah.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45HE EXHALES
0:26:49 > 0:26:53Still can set my emotions... You all right? Oh, dear.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55That's what it's all about, brother.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02Oh, it's still fresh, still fresh in the eyes.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04You know what I mean?
0:27:07 > 0:27:10Yeah, it's the first one, and like I say, from that,
0:27:10 > 0:27:11- I just kept going and going.- Yeah.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14So, for you, doing your first one, you know, doing a wave,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17that's a wave of emotion that's here, innit, you know?
0:27:17 > 0:27:19SEABIRDS CALL
0:27:20 > 0:27:21WAVES CRASH
0:27:28 > 0:27:30It was my only sanctuary.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34Because I knew that I could go out there and there weren't going
0:27:34 > 0:27:37to be that many people that would come out there with me.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39That became a safe place.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48Chris started surf kayaking after being discharged from the Army.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Psychologically, I was not in a good place at all.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55And being able to go out on the water,
0:27:55 > 0:27:59it was like clearing my mind out and giving me my sanity back.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04And giving me the strength to carry on dealing with what
0:28:04 > 0:28:07I was having to deal with every day.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10But when his condition deteriorated,
0:28:10 > 0:28:13it became too dangerous for Chris to continue.
0:28:16 > 0:28:21When I had to give that up, I went into quite a bleak place,
0:28:21 > 0:28:23and I struggled a lot.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27There's no question that both the physical
0:28:27 > 0:28:31and mental injuries haven't affected just me,
0:28:31 > 0:28:35there's been a big impact on my wife and my son as well.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38It's affected all of us, the whole family.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42EXCITED SHOUTING
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Chris's passion for kayaking was something that he shared
0:28:46 > 0:28:48with his son Max.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50SHOUTING AND LAUGHTER
0:28:52 > 0:28:54- MAX:- I do miss it.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Something that brought us close together as a father and son.
0:28:59 > 0:29:04In 2009, Chris was diagnosed with a long-term neurological condition.
0:29:04 > 0:29:09His last sea kayaking trip with Max nearly cost them their lives.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13My brain did exactly what they'd told me it would do,
0:29:13 > 0:29:16it got overloaded and so it just started shutting down...
0:29:17 > 0:29:19..to the point where I wasn't actually able
0:29:19 > 0:29:21to even hold the paddle.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23My arms were completely cramping,
0:29:23 > 0:29:26it was like somebody had gaffer-taped my arms to my chest.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29I'd dropped my paddle, that was gone,
0:29:29 > 0:29:33I was probably about that close to blinking out.
0:29:33 > 0:29:37It was just a case of trying to keep my balance enough for the boat
0:29:37 > 0:29:40to gently drift onto this beach.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43It was just pure luck that there happened to be
0:29:43 > 0:29:46a couple on the beach who were able to come down,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48because poor old Max, bless him, wouldn't have been able
0:29:48 > 0:29:51to do anything, I think he was only ten at the time,
0:29:51 > 0:29:52he wouldn't have been able
0:29:52 > 0:29:54to actually do anything himself to help me.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59I think it only really hit me, precisely what was going on,
0:29:59 > 0:30:00once the coastguard arrived,
0:30:00 > 0:30:02and that's when I went, "OK, this is serious."
0:30:04 > 0:30:06If my dad wasn't the man he is,
0:30:06 > 0:30:08then I don't think we'd have got the happy ending we did.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13And I'd hope that if he gets to the Invictus Games,
0:30:13 > 0:30:18he can really show everyone what I see in him as my dad.
0:30:24 > 0:30:25'When I first met Chris,
0:30:25 > 0:30:29he was much more mobile than he is these days.'
0:30:29 > 0:30:32They've spread out! Where's he gone?
0:30:32 > 0:30:34'We used to do so much together.'
0:30:35 > 0:30:41It's been really hard. We've missed our days out. Family time.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48Sport is a way to go out and
0:30:48 > 0:30:50do something together, to share,
0:30:50 > 0:30:52and that's really, really
0:30:52 > 0:30:57good for you and it's good for your psychology as well.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00And without having that and without being able to go out
0:31:00 > 0:31:03and do those things, it's quite a dark place to be.
0:31:05 > 0:31:06I miss him.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12Chris has swapped his kayak for a hand bike,
0:31:12 > 0:31:15which he'll be racing at the UK team trials.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18I do think he has something to prove to himself,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21because his career was cut short.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24Invictus is like achieving something,
0:31:24 > 0:31:29that he can still do something awesome, really.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:31:34 > 0:31:38- COMMENTATOR:- 'The noise level here in the Copper Box,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40'well, it is positively visceral!
0:31:44 > 0:31:47'Breakthrough, breakthrough!'
0:31:47 > 0:31:50I've watched the basketball final, I don't know how many times.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52Well into double digits.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58The first time I watched it,
0:31:58 > 0:32:02I felt overwhelmed - just the stunning play.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05It made me want to put in the hours, so that I could be there
0:32:05 > 0:32:07and be part of that.
0:32:07 > 0:32:11'..as they get ever closer to having the gold medal hang
0:32:11 > 0:32:13'proudly from their necks...'
0:32:16 > 0:32:20Nerys only picked up a basketball a year ago,
0:32:20 > 0:32:23but now she spends every spare minute on the court.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27Yes! Ohhh!
0:32:27 > 0:32:30'I've put in 12 hours straight on the basketball court
0:32:30 > 0:32:32'a week for the last four months.'
0:32:32 > 0:32:34'I really want this.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38'I've given up family time -
0:32:38 > 0:32:41'I used to have Sunday dinner every Sunday with my family.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44'They don't see me now, cos I've got three hours of basketball training.'
0:32:46 > 0:32:50I spent six years thinking that I wasn't worth anything.
0:32:50 > 0:32:54What turned it around for me was rediscovering sport.
0:32:59 > 0:33:04Growing up, I was always on the more kind of boy-ey kind of sports side.
0:33:04 > 0:33:09Proper geek, nerd, science and maths are my thing,
0:33:09 > 0:33:12hence the medical path that I took.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15My fitness was pretty amazing at that point.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18I'd think nothing of going to the Brecon Beacons
0:33:18 > 0:33:22and running 19 miles with 40 kilos on a weekend,
0:33:22 > 0:33:24so the Army was the choice for me.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28In the Army, I was a combat specialist medic.
0:33:28 > 0:33:33I was last based with the guys down in Portsmouth.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35It was fast paced and I loved that,
0:33:35 > 0:33:38so, yeah, I wouldn't have changed it.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42But it was just four years after joining the Army
0:33:42 > 0:33:44that Nerys's career was cut short.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51As a front-line medic, you know,
0:33:51 > 0:33:53you're really aware that you could get injured, you know,
0:33:53 > 0:33:56or worse, and I think you accept that,
0:33:56 > 0:34:00because it's part of your job and you love what you do.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04But I wasn't expecting my life to get changed by doing
0:34:04 > 0:34:07less than 10mph on the motorbike back here in the UK.
0:34:08 > 0:34:12On the 23rd of October 2008, I got on my motorbike,
0:34:12 > 0:34:17just to pop out and do a couple of things. I was on a straight road.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20A car reversed off a kerb from behind a bus stop
0:34:20 > 0:34:22and took me and the bike under the car.
0:34:24 > 0:34:25SIREN WAILS
0:34:33 > 0:34:35I got crushed.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39Ended up eventually completely paralysed from the chest down.
0:34:41 > 0:34:47I feel like I let the military down, because I didn't get blown up.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49And at that point, there were
0:34:49 > 0:34:55so many people coming back with horrendous injuries, I felt guilty.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58I felt guilty about getting anything from the military,
0:34:58 > 0:35:00so I cut myself off.
0:35:01 > 0:35:06It was a good three years where I just didn't ever leave the house.
0:35:06 > 0:35:11Half the time, I didn't even get up, you know, I just couldn't see any...
0:35:12 > 0:35:15..worth in myself, in even trying.
0:35:17 > 0:35:18When I was in the dark space,
0:35:18 > 0:35:24I just didn't think that I had anything to offer anybody,
0:35:24 > 0:35:28or that anybody would ever want me in any way.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32Nerys hid herself away for three years,
0:35:32 > 0:35:36until she finally accepted help from a charity for injured veterans.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Before that trip, I questioned whether I could even get on a plane.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46Whenever you're ready.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48- I got your saddle, OK?- Yeah.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51Right, start out by going right.
0:36:03 > 0:36:06The first ski run, ohh!
0:36:06 > 0:36:08The feeling of achievement -
0:36:08 > 0:36:13that, for me, just was a life-changing point.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18That I could actually be OK,
0:36:18 > 0:36:21for the first time since the accid...accident that I...
0:36:26 > 0:36:30..that I could actually be back to being a, or that I was still,
0:36:30 > 0:36:32a decent person.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37Sport's a magical thing.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40And it was my life before,
0:36:40 > 0:36:43so, you know, why shouldn't it be my life again?
0:36:53 > 0:36:55- Have you got balls?- Yeah.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01With the UK Invictus trials only a few days away,
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Chris is getting some last-minute practice in.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07- Don't made me look bad!- Sorry!
0:37:08 > 0:37:13He's playing James Shaw, the reigning GB national champion.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15Ah-ha-ha! Good shot.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22- Ah-ha!- Who is this guy?!
0:37:23 > 0:37:25Sorry, mate!
0:37:26 > 0:37:29A lot better than I thought you'd be. I mean... No, honestly,
0:37:29 > 0:37:32you obviously haven't been playing long and you still...
0:37:32 > 0:37:34You've got a good forehand crosscourt,
0:37:34 > 0:37:35you kept hitting me with that.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38- Yeah, you're playing well.- Sweet. Awesome, mate, cheers.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40- Carry on with it. - Yeah, definitely stick at it.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42For me to go up against him,
0:37:42 > 0:37:45and have him struggling to reach some of my return shots
0:37:45 > 0:37:50from his serve, yeah, man, it's all looking good, fingers crossed.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53I'm off, see you in a bit!
0:37:57 > 0:37:59HE GRUNTS
0:37:59 > 0:38:01I didn't want that to happen!
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Yeah, sweet, that's all right, that's good.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12The trials have finally arrived.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Over the next three days, more than 200 new
0:38:15 > 0:38:20and returning athletes will fight for just 100 team places.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24MUSIC: She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult
0:38:25 > 0:38:29- NEWSREADER:- 'Former servicemen and women who've been injured on
0:38:29 > 0:38:31'active service came together in Bath today,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34'hoping to be chosen for this year's Invictus Games.'
0:38:37 > 0:38:41'They were watched by Prince Harry, who set up the Games two years ago.'
0:38:45 > 0:38:47There's a hell of a lot of new faces here.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50They know that they've got to fill some big boots.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54The shirts that we haven't washed since 2014, because of the epic
0:38:54 > 0:38:57win that we had, is now being handed over to these guys.
0:38:58 > 0:39:03242 competitors, we're going to select a team of 100.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06Two competitors for every place, so it's going to be tough.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11And of course, we want a team which is going to go and compete well,
0:39:11 > 0:39:13and we'd love to beat the Americans in their own back yard.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19Yeah!
0:39:24 > 0:39:25HE GRUNTS
0:39:27 > 0:39:31Competing at trials in the shot put and discus is Tom.
0:39:31 > 0:39:32But for him,
0:39:32 > 0:39:36just making it here today has been an achievement in itself.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40I was taken into hospital only last week with a number of seizures.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43You know, it's been a tough couple of weeks.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48For a lot of guys, they are not mentally fit.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51I think sport naturally plays such an important part to
0:39:51 > 0:39:54the recovery of both mental and physical health.
0:39:54 > 0:39:58Jen's long hours of training are now behind her.
0:39:58 > 0:40:03Today is her chance to prove that she deserves a place on the team.
0:40:03 > 0:40:04It's always difficult.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06You know, you want to put your all into everything,
0:40:06 > 0:40:09and then you suddenly find that there's nothing left
0:40:09 > 0:40:11for your family and your job and things,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14so, erm, juggling everything has always been a bit tricky.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19I've been waiting for this day for 18 months. I really want it.
0:40:19 > 0:40:20Set!
0:40:21 > 0:40:23STARTING GUN FIRES
0:40:32 > 0:40:35Jen wins the 100 metres.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38But to secure her place on the team she'll have to
0:40:38 > 0:40:41impress in the 200 and 400 metres as well.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47Three, two, one, go!
0:40:48 > 0:40:51Trials for the basketball team are well under way.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53Hands up, hands up, hands up!
0:40:53 > 0:40:58The UK won gold in 2014, beating the Americans in an epic final
0:40:58 > 0:41:01at the Copper Box Arena in London.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Coach Scott is determined to retain the title...
0:41:04 > 0:41:05SHOUTING
0:41:07 > 0:41:11..and Nerys has her sights set on one of the coveted team places.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15There are a lot of people here and a lot of really great players.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18Really looking forward to it, see how it goes.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20- Good luck, I'll let you crack on. - Nervous. Thank you. Thank you.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24OK, this is the selection
0:41:24 > 0:41:27to become part of the championship holding team.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29I've got 12 slots to fill.
0:41:29 > 0:41:30If you want to be one of those,
0:41:30 > 0:41:32you have to give me absolutely everything.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34You've got to show me that you want it now.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37Don't leave here thinking, "I could have done more."
0:41:37 > 0:41:40OK, let's hit it, let's get to the baseline, we're onto sprints!
0:41:45 > 0:41:47If you really want this, you've got to work hard!
0:41:53 > 0:41:58Nerys is relatively inexperienced, got into the sport quite recently.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01She's hitting it with passion and she's doing it with enthusiasm,
0:42:01 > 0:42:03'but I've only got 12 slots.'
0:42:03 > 0:42:05Let's step it up!
0:42:07 > 0:42:09Catch her up, Nerys, catch her up!
0:42:09 > 0:42:11Let's go, Nerys!
0:42:11 > 0:42:13Get that ball in the hoop!
0:42:15 > 0:42:16Nice!
0:42:16 > 0:42:18MUSIC: How You Like Me Now? by The Heavy
0:42:27 > 0:42:29I really don't know if I've done enough.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32I'm really pleased to still be here at the end of the trials
0:42:32 > 0:42:36in the final 20, but out of that he has 12 places.
0:42:37 > 0:42:38I'm nervous, really nervous.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48It's Day 2 of the trials.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51After a shaky start yesterday because of his illness,
0:42:51 > 0:42:54Tom is focused on his last chance to make the team -
0:42:54 > 0:42:56indoor rowing.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59- Go on, drop it down!- Unfortunately, yesterday I was a bit unwell,
0:42:59 > 0:43:02so I could be crying at the end of this!
0:43:02 > 0:43:03Let's go!
0:43:03 > 0:43:06We've got ambulance on call, haven't we?!
0:43:09 > 0:43:13This is Tom's first time ever competing in this style of event.
0:43:13 > 0:43:15That's it, Tom.
0:43:15 > 0:43:16Good man, good!
0:43:16 > 0:43:19It's a four-minute performance test.
0:43:19 > 0:43:24Go flat out, as fast as you can, as hard as you can.
0:43:24 > 0:43:2720 seconds! Keep it going, keep it going. All the way, all the way!
0:43:27 > 0:43:29Yeah, well done!
0:43:29 > 0:43:30Nice.
0:43:30 > 0:43:34Tom puts in a heroic effort, but he won't know if it's enough
0:43:34 > 0:43:36until the team is announced.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39Good man, good. You OK?
0:43:39 > 0:43:41TOM BREATHES HEAVILY
0:43:41 > 0:43:43That's it, keep it slow.
0:43:46 > 0:43:49While some people are focusing on their strongest event,
0:43:49 > 0:43:52others are taking a different approach to the competition.
0:43:54 > 0:43:57I'm doing the 100 metres in the wheelchair racing,
0:43:57 > 0:44:00200 metres, 400 metres, and 1,500 metres,
0:44:00 > 0:44:02wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball...
0:44:05 > 0:44:08..wheelchair rugby, and a little bit of swimming.
0:44:11 > 0:44:12I'm shattered!
0:44:19 > 0:44:21Character, big character, er,
0:44:21 > 0:44:23lots of laughs, lots of jokes,
0:44:23 > 0:44:26lots of banter. Good for morale.
0:44:26 > 0:44:28Most things would get a giggle out of Chris.
0:44:34 > 0:44:37Chris puts in a strong performance on the tennis court,
0:44:37 > 0:44:40but for him the Invictus Games is about more than just the sport.
0:44:40 > 0:44:43It's just good to see all the boys again.
0:44:43 > 0:44:45You feel kind of healed when you're here
0:44:45 > 0:44:48because you're still having banter, giving the odd little dig,
0:44:48 > 0:44:50stuff like this brings you all back together,
0:44:50 > 0:44:52and then leave after the weekend
0:44:52 > 0:44:55somewhat of a better person than when you came.
0:44:55 > 0:44:56Hi, I'm helping!
0:44:56 > 0:44:58LAUGHTER
0:44:58 > 0:45:01These guys pushing me over, out of my chair, they think that's funny.
0:45:01 > 0:45:05- It is.- Yeah, just to watch me try and get off the floor.- Yeah.
0:45:05 > 0:45:08I mean, she throws herself on the floor anyway, why not help her?
0:45:08 > 0:45:09So, it takes me, like, five minutes
0:45:09 > 0:45:12to roll from my front to my back, so I get halfway there
0:45:12 > 0:45:14and they just nudge me back onto my front,
0:45:14 > 0:45:16because that's helping(!)
0:45:17 > 0:45:19LAUGHTER
0:45:19 > 0:45:22On the way home from the Warrior Games in America,
0:45:22 > 0:45:25Chris provided some in-flight entertainment.
0:45:27 > 0:45:29CHRIS GROWLS
0:45:29 > 0:45:30Just shut the thing!
0:45:30 > 0:45:31CHRIS ROARS
0:45:31 > 0:45:33WOMAN SHRIEKS
0:45:33 > 0:45:35LAUGHTER AND CLAPPING
0:45:36 > 0:45:38If you don't look on the bright side of things,
0:45:38 > 0:45:41you're just going to get yourself in a deeper hole so, the saying is,
0:45:41 > 0:45:44"If you're not laughing, you're crying somewhere."
0:45:44 > 0:45:47Everyone's crying somehow but if you laugh it off you can, er,
0:45:47 > 0:45:48you can smile and carry on.
0:45:53 > 0:45:55It's the final day of trials,
0:45:55 > 0:45:59and Chris Jones is on his way to compete in the track cycling event.
0:46:03 > 0:46:08He's brought his own trusty hand-built bike along with him.
0:46:10 > 0:46:14Cycling was one of the most popular events in the last Invictus Games.
0:46:14 > 0:46:19The large turnout this year means some stiff competition for places -
0:46:19 > 0:46:22and some serious equipment on show.
0:46:22 > 0:46:26Invictus gold medallist Paul Vice knows the wisdom of having
0:46:26 > 0:46:27a good set of wheels.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32When I first started training, I borrowed a bike from Headley Court,
0:46:32 > 0:46:34it was, erm, well, I called it the Scaffold,
0:46:34 > 0:46:37right, cos that's what it was, and it weighed 30 kilos,
0:46:37 > 0:46:39it was an absolute beast.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42And I was way off the pace, I was thinking, "Ohhh!"
0:46:42 > 0:46:45So I took the plunge and did buy a high-performance bike,
0:46:45 > 0:46:47and then the difference is huge.
0:46:47 > 0:46:49If you just rock up on your Sunday morning, you know,
0:46:49 > 0:46:52basket on the front, you're not going to do very well.
0:46:52 > 0:46:54I think the bottom bracket's on its way out,
0:46:54 > 0:46:57it's making a hell of a racket.
0:46:57 > 0:47:00Chris has clocked up over 2,000 off-road kilometres
0:47:00 > 0:47:02on his beloved bike,
0:47:02 > 0:47:04and more than a few dents and bruises.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10But this will be the first time he's used it at a track race.
0:47:10 > 0:47:14..four, three, two, one, go!
0:47:20 > 0:47:25I'm hoping that if I get selected and if I go to Orlando,
0:47:25 > 0:47:29it will allow me to have a sense of peace,
0:47:29 > 0:47:34being able to finish my relationship with the British military
0:47:34 > 0:47:40on a positive note, with things a little calmer in here.
0:47:44 > 0:47:46- BELL RINGS - Last lap!
0:47:48 > 0:47:53And it's only on the final lap that the leaders pull away from Chris.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11- Amazing effort, Chris, amazing. - Well done!
0:48:12 > 0:48:14I was doing my damnedest,
0:48:14 > 0:48:18but they lapped me literally just on that last...that final straight,
0:48:18 > 0:48:22so, erm, yeah, it was a shame cos I would have liked to have
0:48:22 > 0:48:25crossed the line on the same lap as them.
0:48:25 > 0:48:28I couldn't have done any more than I did today.
0:48:28 > 0:48:29BELL RINGS
0:48:31 > 0:48:34With the hard graft and trials behind them, each of our
0:48:34 > 0:48:39Invictus hopefuls now just has to write a personal statement...
0:48:42 > 0:48:47..150 words explaining what the Invictus Games means to them.
0:48:50 > 0:48:53The final decision of who will be on the plane to Orlando
0:48:53 > 0:48:56is down to the Selection Committee.
0:48:56 > 0:48:59They'll take into account the performance data from trials
0:48:59 > 0:49:05but also how being selected for the team would benefit each individual.
0:49:05 > 0:49:06It is a big day.
0:49:06 > 0:49:10It's really important to us, as the panel, to do the athletes justice.
0:49:10 > 0:49:12There's performance data,
0:49:12 > 0:49:14which is how they performed in the trials, plus coach input,
0:49:14 > 0:49:17and then there's the really important element of
0:49:17 > 0:49:18their own personal statement,
0:49:18 > 0:49:21and that carries considerable weight in our selection.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26We have Jen Warren, 224.
0:49:26 > 0:49:27Major Warren.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32Her strongest suit is her wheelchair racing.
0:49:32 > 0:49:36In her personal statement she really talks very powerfully
0:49:36 > 0:49:40about not being defined by her disability.
0:49:40 > 0:49:43"Sport enables me to channel my frustration into
0:49:43 > 0:49:44"something more positive.
0:49:44 > 0:49:47"My training has made me physically stronger,
0:49:47 > 0:49:51"enabling me to look after my daughter more independently."
0:49:51 > 0:49:54But Jen's got a lot of competing demands on her time.
0:49:54 > 0:49:56Seems to have a lot on her plate.
0:49:56 > 0:49:58We need to really think very, very hard about whether
0:49:58 > 0:49:59she's being overloaded,
0:49:59 > 0:50:01that might cause this to be a negative
0:50:01 > 0:50:04rather than the positive experience that we want it to be.
0:50:04 > 0:50:06- Who's next?- Air Trooper Jones.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11He obviously did OK in the cycling.
0:50:11 > 0:50:14Is he the one that didn't have a new bike when he did the trials?
0:50:14 > 0:50:16Yeah, that's right.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18I'm impressed that he managed to survive the day
0:50:18 > 0:50:21and get round the course on that bike, actually.
0:50:21 > 0:50:23But we've got some strong cyclists.
0:50:24 > 0:50:26Tennis.
0:50:26 > 0:50:29Middleton was someone the coach was impressed with.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31He was such a character.
0:50:31 > 0:50:34Never stopped getting stuck into everything that was going on.
0:50:34 > 0:50:38Great athletic ability, he goes off, not only plays well, but he also,
0:50:38 > 0:50:42er, his energy's infectious and he inspires the rest of the team.
0:50:43 > 0:50:48- Wheelchair basketball?- Competition for the team's tough.- It is.
0:50:48 > 0:50:50We've now got Pearce to consider.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54- She's come a long way in a couple of years, hasn't she?- She has.
0:50:54 > 0:50:58She was quite sort of lost, looking for a bit of a focus.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00And fiercely competitive.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03- I wouldn't like to get between Nerys and the ball, that's for sure.- No.
0:51:03 > 0:51:05But is she good enough?
0:51:05 > 0:51:06She's got some attributes
0:51:06 > 0:51:09which I think will certainly bring a lot to the team.
0:51:09 > 0:51:12But as the coaches always told me, "You can't teach height,"
0:51:12 > 0:51:15and so in terms of being a natural basketball player, erm,
0:51:15 > 0:51:18she's going to struggle from the get-go.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20Can she get up to speed in time?
0:51:22 > 0:51:25OK, so, next up we've got Tom Stimpson.
0:51:27 > 0:51:30He was one of the ones that seeing 2014 has brought him to us.
0:51:30 > 0:51:34In terms of athletic ability, he's in the middle range of performance.
0:51:34 > 0:51:37Definitely some potential for improvement,
0:51:37 > 0:51:39but he's got a lot of work to do.
0:51:40 > 0:51:43D'you want to pop the statement up?
0:51:43 > 0:51:46- Oh, yeah, he's had a difficult year, hasn't he?- Oh, yeah.
0:51:48 > 0:51:49"I watched the 2014 Invictus Games
0:51:49 > 0:51:52"that gave me the inspiration to go and try new sports.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55"The Invictus Games will build more confidence, strength,
0:51:55 > 0:51:58"and help with body image, coping with PTSD and seizures.
0:51:58 > 0:52:00"But being able to wear a GB Team vest..."
0:52:01 > 0:52:03Whoo!
0:52:08 > 0:52:09Wow...
0:52:15 > 0:52:16"GB Team vest..."
0:52:18 > 0:52:21Cor, bloody hell, didn't expect that, erm...
0:52:24 > 0:52:27"Being positive and having a smile is important with the team
0:52:27 > 0:52:29"and supporting each other.
0:52:29 > 0:52:31"It would make my wife and children proud.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33"I've struggled feeling..."
0:52:36 > 0:52:37"..feeling a failure."
0:52:40 > 0:52:44Just thought my days of sport were finished, as you would, you know!
0:52:51 > 0:52:55The Selection Committee has made their decision,
0:52:55 > 0:52:59and each competitor has been on tenterhooks waiting for news.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01It's been really difficult waiting,
0:53:01 > 0:53:04and I've learned that I really am not as patient as I thought I was!
0:53:04 > 0:53:08Hoping sometime today they'll put us out of our misery and let us know!
0:53:16 > 0:53:19Nerys, hello, it's David Richmond from Help For Heroes.
0:53:19 > 0:53:21Oh, hello, how are you, sir?
0:53:21 > 0:53:23'We sat on the Selection Committee...'
0:53:23 > 0:53:28..erm, and we considered 228 competitors,
0:53:28 > 0:53:31and, er, I'm absolutely delighted to say, Nerys,
0:53:31 > 0:53:34'that you are one of the selected 100.'
0:53:34 > 0:53:37Thank you very much, sir. That's amazing, absolutely amazing.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39- Oh, brilliant news. - 'Congratulations.'
0:53:40 > 0:53:42PHONE RINGS
0:53:48 > 0:53:50'Jen, it's Martin Colclough.'
0:53:50 > 0:53:54- OK.- 'How are you?' - Hmm, I'm bricking it.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57I'm not sure how to tell you this but, erm...
0:53:57 > 0:54:00'you are going to Orlando, you've been selected for the team.'
0:54:00 > 0:54:03- SHE SQUEALS - Yay!
0:54:03 > 0:54:04Thank you!
0:54:04 > 0:54:09Chris has had some good news and wants to share it with his family.
0:54:09 > 0:54:12- You all right, mate?- Hello! - Congratulations!- Thank you.
0:54:12 > 0:54:17- Thank you.- Well done, son. - Thank you, Mam.
0:54:19 > 0:54:21- Well done, buddy. - Cheers, big man!
0:54:23 > 0:54:24CHEERING
0:54:24 > 0:54:26Does anyone want it, then?
0:54:26 > 0:54:29- Give us the bottle!- Cheers.
0:54:29 > 0:54:32- Thank you.- Well done, Chris. - Cheers.- Let's win some gold.
0:54:35 > 0:54:38He's representing something that he believes in.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41He was lost for two, three years,
0:54:41 > 0:54:44and now he's got something to look forward to all the time,
0:54:44 > 0:54:50something to aim for, so that, you know, that gives him
0:54:50 > 0:54:53a sense of achievement and makes me feel so proud.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56Every son wants to make their parents proud.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59Knowing the fact that my parents are proud of me and they're
0:54:59 > 0:55:03getting their little boy back who they raised in the right way...
0:55:03 > 0:55:06I went down a slippery patch but they've got their little Chris back.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10I'm not going to be happy if I don't come back with a medal,
0:55:10 > 0:55:13but I'm competing, and it's the start of a new story,
0:55:13 > 0:55:15a new chapter in my life, so bring it on.
0:55:16 > 0:55:17Let's do it.
0:55:22 > 0:55:26- NEWSREADER:- 'Prince Harry has named the British team that'll take part
0:55:26 > 0:55:29'in the Invictus Games in Orlando.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32'All the UK athletes came together for the first time today.'
0:55:35 > 0:55:38Prince Harry has invited all the successful athletes
0:55:38 > 0:55:40to Buckingham Palace.
0:55:40 > 0:55:44Each individual has earned the right to wear their country's flag
0:55:44 > 0:55:46on their chest once more.
0:55:48 > 0:55:51Everyone's really excited cos now we can finally reveal that we're
0:55:51 > 0:55:52going to be on the team.
0:55:52 > 0:55:54Hang on, you should be in this.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56D'you want me to take one for you? Go on, get in.
0:56:00 > 0:56:03I've been telling my little girl that we're going to go to Orlando
0:56:03 > 0:56:07in May, and she's like, "Orlando? Plane! Orlando!"
0:56:07 > 0:56:10And it's like, "Yeah, you're going to go on a plane with Daddy!"
0:56:10 > 0:56:14The last two successful athletes to join the celebrations are...
0:56:15 > 0:56:16..Chris...
0:56:18 > 0:56:19..and Tom.
0:56:20 > 0:56:23- You should be proud of yourself. - Yeah.
0:56:23 > 0:56:25- You are, aren't you? - I am proud but it...
0:56:25 > 0:56:28it's only recently that you... be able to accept that.
0:56:28 > 0:56:31You know, it's a massive, sort of difficult challenge inside here,
0:56:31 > 0:56:33but once you do accept here and here,
0:56:33 > 0:56:36that helps you in recovery, so I'm proud and it's great to be here.
0:56:36 > 0:56:38I'm pleased to hear it.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41Very happy to be here and glad I made the team.
0:56:41 > 0:56:45Worth all that effort on that scaffold pole of a bike?
0:56:45 > 0:56:48Although I like to think that maybe it got me a bit of a pity vote!
0:56:51 > 0:56:54- When they formed up just now, I wanted to get up and march!- Did you?
0:56:54 > 0:56:57Yeah, I really did, I thought, "Oh, man, that's great!"
0:56:59 > 0:57:02Given what you've all been through, how good a day is today?
0:57:02 > 0:57:04It's the fact that we're all there
0:57:04 > 0:57:06and we're all building each other up, you know,
0:57:06 > 0:57:09pushing and encouraging each other to move forward in everything.
0:57:09 > 0:57:12Being able to put this on, know what I mean? The shirt, the kit, the...
0:57:12 > 0:57:14You know, we're fighting for the country again.
0:57:15 > 0:57:17DOG BARKS
0:57:17 > 0:57:19LAUGHTER
0:57:19 > 0:57:20Where's your uniform?!
0:57:22 > 0:57:25But no team is complete without a team photo.
0:57:25 > 0:57:27- Hip-hip... - ALL: Hooray!
0:57:27 > 0:57:29- Hip-hip...- ALL: Hooray!
0:57:29 > 0:57:30- Hip-hip... - ALL: Hooray!
0:57:33 > 0:57:36When people are unhappy they use the expression, "What's the point?"
0:57:36 > 0:57:37Because we all need to feel valued,
0:57:37 > 0:57:39we need to feel we have some purpose in life.
0:57:39 > 0:57:41Of course, these guys and girls,
0:57:41 > 0:57:44when they were part of the military, knew what their purpose was.
0:57:44 > 0:57:45They felt truly valued as a team.
0:57:45 > 0:57:48And after serious injury they've had to rediscover that.
0:57:48 > 0:57:51But you can see it in their eyes now, they do feel valued,
0:57:51 > 0:57:53they genuinely feel it.
0:57:53 > 0:57:55Why? Because they're on a mission once more,
0:57:55 > 0:57:58a mission to bring back gold for the UK.
0:57:58 > 0:58:01The Invictus Games, on BBC One, all next week.
0:58:01 > 0:58:03Why not tune in and cheer these people on?