Army veteran Ben shares how the RBL supported his recovery through sport, from competing at the Invictus Games 2023 to coaching Team UK competitors in 2025 and pursuing a career as a professional para-athlete.
At 17, Ben joined the British Army and began his basic training. Over the next 16 years, he built a successful military career, deploying worldwide on numerous training exercises and operational deployments.
But whilst on active duty in 2019, he was seriously injured in an incident that changed his life.
Injury and discharge
During a military training exercise, Ben was shot numerous times, sustaining serious injuries to his upper torso and arms.
What followed was a prolonged hospital stay involving several operations and extensive surgery to reconstruct his left arm.
Throughout his many months of rehabilitation, he struggled with feelings of loneliness and a lack of purpose.
“I felt lost and isolated, and I was unable to come to terms with what had happened. I constantly asked myself, ‘Why me?’”
Ben was eventually diagnosed with PTSD, and was discharged from the military.
To be selected for Team UK gave me purpose and direction along my recovery journey.
Selection for Invictus Games
After applying for the Invictus Games, Ben was selected to represent Team UK in Düsseldorf, Germany, where he won medals in cycling and indoor rowing. With the support of the Royal British Legion, which funds and facilitates Team UK’s participation in the games alongside the Ministry of Defence, he was able to take on this opportunity.
“I hesitated to apply, and previous competitors I knew encouraged me to do it – I never looked back.
“It gave me a network of friends where I don't have to justify who I am.”
For Ben, the Invictus Games was a key milestone in his recovery, providing what he calls “Gold Medal Moments.” While he became a medallist in two sports, for Ben it wasn't about the medals themselves but the journey and the opportunities that followed – ultimately allowing him to pursue a career as a professional athlete.
“I have seen the power of sport aid recovery in so many ways. It gives wounded, injured, and sick serving military personnel and veterans their lives back.”
Ben is now part of the Paralympic programme with British Rowing and has gone on to become a world champion para-athlete.
Becoming a coach
Ben's experience didn't end at the Invictus Games 2023. After his time as a competitor, he wanted to support the next cohort through coaching indoor rowing and alpine skiing. The Royal British Legion helped him take on this role for the Invictus Games 2025 in Canada.
“I wanted to be a coach because I wanted to give back for the opportunity I had competing in Düsseldorf 2023.
“The Invictus Games programme has so many amazing opportunities for overcoming adversity, injury and illness.”
Ben has now become an important part of the recovery journey for those in Team UK, and says, “It’s amazing to be able to support these awesome people. To see how far they have come to push beyond adversity and trauma to improve their quality of life.”
He now combines coaching for the two sports he loves with the spirit of Invictus, supporting others on their recovery journeys.
