Team UK win first medal on opening day of Invictus Games with Wheelchair Curling silver

Team UK have won their first medal at the Invictus Games in Vancouver with a team silver medal in Wheelchair Curling.

The sport is among a new list of winter sports included on the sporting roster for the first time at the Invictus Games.

The UK team reached the final after they successfully beat teams from Canada, Germany and Team Unconquered 1 in the preliminary rounds, before going on to defeat Israel 3-1 in the semi-final.

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They were then locked in a tightly fought final with the Republic of Korea, who they found themselves drawn at 2-2 in the closing stages.

Forced to play another end to decide the winner, the team from South Korea emerged victorious in the end to deny Team UK their first gold with a final score of 3-2.

Leading the curling team is Squadron Leader Neil Thomas, who is competing at the Invictus Games as one of the Vice Captains of Team UK.

Reacting to the team’s silver medal, he told BFBS Forces News that he "never enjoyed myself so much" in the gold medal battle against South Korea.

He said: "Talk about a crowd-pleaser in those last couple of shots to bring it in was just absolutely fantastic.

"What we’ve just watched there was the equivalent of a penalty shootout, in the first-ever time obviously Team UK, with the help of the Royal British Legion doing all of the extra stuff, the first time we’ve ever competed in something like this, to get to the final was just absolutely amazing.

"I think we gave the crowd and everyone exactly what it could be to take it to a penalty shootout, I mean, what a day.

"It's cliché whenever we say everyone's a winner and that, but I’ve never enjoyed myself so much, it was fantastic."

Sqn Ldr Thomas sustained a crush injury with his foot from a Challenger Tank Deck whilst serving in the British Army 25 years ago.

Now serving in the Royal Air Force in the Rapid Capabilities Office at RAF High Wycombe, he is competing in Wheelchair Curling, Indoor Rowing, Alpine Skiing and Swimming.

Speaking on how he copes with a jam-packed competition schedule, he said: "At the end of the day, it's the Invictus Games.

"We didn't come here to have a day off, it's as simple as that.

"Tomorrow is just another day, just like it is with all of our recovery journeys and everything, tomorrow is just another day.

"If you've had an amazing day one day one day, you build on that experience and take it to the next, if your day weren’t so good, you look at that, take it through and have a better day the next day.

"That's what the Invictus Game is all about, tomorrow is a brand new challenge doing something else."

Elsewhere, wheelchair basketball, an old favourite on the Invictus Games calendar, was also on the agenda.

The tournament was won by Israel, who dominated the USA with a score of 67-7.

Team UK didn't fare so well, losing their earlier games against Colombia by 13-7 and to Unconquered 3 by 13-11.

Flight Lieutenant Kayleigh Pierce reacted to Team UK's performance, telling BFBS Forces News that it's not about the results at the Invictus Games.

She said: “We couldn’t care less [about the result].

"It sounds cheesy but it's not about the result, it’s about having a go, playing as a team and we're just there for the beer.

"We've had a brilliant time. Yes the result wasn’t quite what we want, but we've enjoyed every minute."

With the weeks sporting events having started off in Vancouver on Sunday, the action will now move over to Whistler on Monday where Skeleton will be making its Invictus Games debut.