I spent two days at the Invictus Games watching disabled servicemen and women from 14 countries competing is a variety of sports and defeating the life-changing injuries that they have suffered.

The atmosphere was amazing, a good comparison to both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. There were some empty seats but what the crowd lacked in numbers they made up for in enthusiasm.

Competition was fierce but the games were played in the truest of sporting spirit. The athletes supported each other and acknowledged the crowd’s support. At the athletics at Lee Valley Stadium the Team GB captain, Dave Henson, a double amputee who served with Perham Down- based 22 Engineer Regiment, won a gold in the 200 metres.

“It has been quite an emotional day with lots of ups and downs,” he said. “I was pleased with my performance in the 200m, but disappointed that I missed my personal best by 0.01 seconds.

“I am so proud of the team; they are such a different bunch of guys to the team that formed up six months ago. They are amazing and the crowd here has been fantastic.”

Mr Henson was escorting Prince Harry in-between races and was besieged by young autograph hunters and fans wanting a “selfie”.

Another local athlete was Corporal Ricky Furgusson, 29, who served with 4 Rifles and received the Military Cross after he lost legs, an eye and five fingers in a bomb blast in Afghanistan.

Corporal Furgusson took part in the T3 100m race but was badly hampered by damage to his running leg. “It was a great shame,” he said “but it is great to have taken part.”

Bulford-based Major Natalie Robinson was an Army level badminton player who enjoyed netball, hockey, quad biking and surfing until she seriously injured her Achilles tendon during a badminton competition in March 2010.

She now has to use a wheelchair and can no longer take part in the sports she loved and was competing in the wheelchair rugby.

“I couldn’t believe I’d made the team,” said Major Robinson. “I haven’t been playing very long and I got involved quite a way into the training session, so I didn’t think I’d be selected but I was.”

At the beginning of the year Major Robinson hit an all-time low. “I went into my room and didn’t come out properly for months. Initially I didn’t go to the training sessions because I thought I’m not going to be good enough. And, I really don’t need to be told that there’s something else I can’t do.”

I watched her compete in the wheelchair rugby competition, which Team GB won in the final against the USA. Major Robinson battled fiercely throughout the matches with no sign of the fears that had dogged her. She was as rough and tough as any of her male team members and set up several of the winning tries.

Another competitor was Paul Wilson from Harnham. He served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in both Iraq and Afghanistan with Tidworth-based 2 RTR. He left the Army in June 2012 and was then diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Working with Combat Stress, Mr Wilson heard about the Invictus Games and decided that archery would be a new challenge. “I love it,” he said. “It gives you space to just think about getting the arrow into the target.

“Meeting other guys from other nations as well, you realise that it is not just you, that others have the same problems. The games have really helped, I am much better now than I was.”