WHEELCHAIR rugby player Stuart Robinson says the way that Britain overcame early nerves to win gold at the inaugural Invictus Games was a credit to their character.

The 32-year-old was a crucial part of the British wheelchair rugby team that triumphed at the Games, presented by Jaguar Land Rover, beating the USA in a dramatic final.

Britain beat their American opponents 13-12, with the winner coming just seconds from the end in front of a sell-out crowd at the Copper Box Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Robinson, who had to have both his legs amputated after driving over an IED in Afghanistan in 2013, said that not wanting to let the British public down had spurred the side to victory.

“We were a bit nervous and apprehensive to start with, but as soon as you get out there on the court you can blank the atmosphere and start to concentrate on the game,” he said.

“The gold medal was always in the back of our minds and we would have been disappointed if we didn’t leave with it.

“The final was a bit closer than we would have liked, but it’s the result that matters and, luckily, we were able to play well enough to edge out the win.

“Wearing the Union Jack on the shirt acted as a huge motivation. All the people that were there had gone along to see how we perform as Great Britain.”

The Invictus Games, presented by Jaguar Land Rover and championed by Prince Harry, is an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel.

More than 400 competitors from 13 nations took part in nine sports across four days and Robinson revealed that the camaraderie had made the Games unforgettable.

“Sport is like being in the military. It has the same kind of ethics; you work together as a team and are looking out for each other, and you always want to win and be the best you can be,” he added.

Jaguar Land Rover is proud to be the presenting partner of the Invictus Games, the international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick Service personnel. For more information visit www.jaguar.com and www.landrover.com