The joint training session for Land Rover BAR and the UK Invictus Games teams comes as they both compete for glory in America next month.

The Land Rover BAR team, skippered by Sir Ben Ainslie, is making its final preparations ahead of the next stage of the America’s Cup World Series in New York from 6-8 May.

The UK Invictus Games team will be competing in the games in Orlando from 8-12 May.

With this in mind, the two teams decided to take part in a joint training session at Land Rover BAR’s home base in Portsmouth on 19 April.

UK Team powerlifters Lucinda Allaway and Vicky Parrett, cyclist Andrew Kelsey and swimmer Zoe Williams joined Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Ben Williams, Sir Ben Ainslie and the Land Rover BAR sailing team in the gym. The athletes shared techniques and discussed tactics, motivation and mental preparation to succeed at top level sport.

Sir Ben Ainslie said: “We are honoured to host members of the UK Team for Invictus Games Orlando 2016 in Portsmouth today.  Like us, the UK Team are in the final stretch of preparation for competition in America and it was really enjoyable mixing our training session to get insight into how they train individually across their own disciplines.”

The 39-year-old added that it was a privilege to meet the Invictus Games team.
“As a professional athlete you give everything you can physically and mentally to succeed. Meeting the Invictus Games UK Team members and hearing their personal stories of overcoming injury and trauma as a result of their services career, you realise that they go above and beyond to deliver on the sporting stage. Invictus Games is hugely inspiring and highlights the true power of sport in giving individuals strength and focus. Everyone at Land Rover BAR wishes the team well in Orlando and we hope to both return to the UK on back of success in the US!”

The Invictus Games are an international Paralympic-style multi-sport event in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and veterans take part.

More than 180 personnel and veterans trialled 10 sports for one of the 110 places available in the UK Team. The rigorous selection process was based on the benefit the Invictus Games will give an individual as part of their recovery, combined with performance and commitment to training.

Invictus Games Orlando 2016 UK Team member for swimming, Zoe Williams, born and raised in Portsmouth, commented: “It was great to try out a different training method and talk to the Land Rover BAR team members about how they are approaching the America’s Cup and how that compares to our own training for Invictus Games”.

The swimmer said the session made them all the more determined to win. “Invictus Games has given me an opportunity to train and develop as an athlete but also meet and learn from some really inspiring people. Rehabilitation is very personal but I think all of the UK Team members preparing for the Games are benefitting from that sense of focus and purpose.
“To have the support of world class athletes like Sir Ben Ainslie and the Land Rover BAR team is fantastic and we are all even more motivated to succeed in Orlando after today. We wish the Land Rover BAR team the best of luck in New York.”

Jaguar Land Rover is a sponsor of the UK Invictus Games team. Since 2013, the company has hired more than 200 former servicemen and servicewomen in the UK, working closely with the Career Transition Partnership, the Ministry of Defence’s official provider of Armed Forces resettlement.