Team UK selects biggest proportion of serving personnel in Invictus history for 2025

A team of 64 has been selected to represent the UK at next year's Invictus Games in Canada. 

The team of 60 – plus four reserves – is made up of 37 veterans and 27 service personnel, by far the biggest proportion of people still serving in the Armed Forces that Team UK have ever produced. 

This is the first time winter sports will feature in the hybrid multi-sport event for wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans – it is taking place in Vancouver and Whistler next February.

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As the team was announced, the Team UK competitors were honing their skills at the indoor slope at the Milton Keynes SnoZone, but in seven months, they will be competing at one of the most famous ski areas in the world.

Army veteran James Cairns has been trying sit-skiing for the first time.

He said: "I want to do sit-down skiing now because I've done it now and it's amazing so I need to get a bit better at that before Canada, definitely.

"I can't thank the RBL (Royal British Legion) enough, they've done amazing. The journey that we're going to take, it's just going to, speechless, I can't put into words what it's going to be like, to be picked to represent the UK – it's amazing."

Squadron Leader Neil Thomas is one of the vice captains: "Understanding that just because you're wounded or injured or you have some other issues... it's not the end of your career.

"If anything, it's that rebalancing that allows you to continue to serve and contribute to the job that we all love to do when we joined up, which was serve our country."

Established in 2014 by Prince Harry, the Invictus Games is celebrating 10 years in existence, and he sent a message of congratulations to all those selected and said he was "excited to see their passion, determination, and resilience on full display".

Louise Assioun, the Royal British Legion's Team UK manager, said: "For the selected individuals, being part of a team again, representing their country and being around others who are all on their individual recovery pathway is what makes Team UK's journey to the Invictus Games so unique.

"The Royal British Legion is proud to support them every step of the way."

Defence Secretary John Healey also congratulated the squad, saying "their strength, resilience and dedication are an inspiration to us all".