OKEHAMPTON cyclist Andrew White has again earned selection to Team UK for the next Invictus Games in Australia.

Andrew, aged 24, is one of the 72-strong team of wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans who have been selected to represent the UK at games in Sydney.

The team of wounded, injured and sick serving military personnel and veterans came together for the first time since selection at the iconic London venue of Horse Guards Parade and were joined by Prime Minister Theresa May who posed with the athletes for the first official team photograph and wished them luck for the games in October.

Andrew, a Okehampton Cycling Club rider, who is also coached with club mate Josh Coyne by Nigel Hale-Hunter of BPM Coaching, has already won Invicta Games glory when last year he won a gold in the criterion race and a silver in the time trial when the event was staged in Canada last September.

Since leaving the military and losing the career he loved, former Lieutenant Corporal, Andrew, a former Coldstream Guards soldier and Afghanistan veteran, was discharged from the Army after injury and later found his mental health had suffered.

Focussing on cycling and competing at the Invictus Games has already proved extremely beneficial, and he finds being around like-minded individuals at the training camps has really given him hope for the future.

Andrew said: ‘Wearing the Union Jack whilst serving made me very proud and to be given the opportunity to represent my country again and to wear the Union Jack on my chest would be a great start to my recovery.’

He also finds the lack of public understanding around mental health to be challenging, so he would like to work with people in the community who also have similarly hidden injuries so he can inspire them to reach their full potential.

After doing superbly in the Invictus Games last year the competitive rider told Times Sport he is hoping for more medals to add to those already won.

‘I would love to win another medal. In some ways it will be more difficult than last time as I am no longer the underdog in races and the expectations are higher on me to do well.

‘I’m really looking to going to the games and particularly meeting up with old teammates in the UK team I was with in Canada.’

Andrew is also looking forward to going to Australia for the first time.

‘Training is going well and I am very fortunate to have the backing of Okehampton Cycling Club and my trainer Nigel Hale-Hunter from BPM Coaching.’

Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson said: ‘I am delighted that competitors have been chosen to represent the UK at the next Invictus Games and look forward to following their journey from training camps to Sydney.

‘The Invictus Games serve as a powerful reminder of the ability of sport to inspire and support the recovery of wounded and injured troops and veterans.’