Afghanistan veteran aiming to enjoy second Winter Paralympics

An Afghanistan veteran says his aim is "to enjoy" his second Winter Paralympics in Beijing.

Owen Pick is a former Royal Anglian Regiment soldier who made the decision to have his leg amputated after an IED explosion in Afghanistan.

He competed at the 2018 Winter Paralympics and just missed out on a medal in PyeongChang.

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"I couldn't have dreamed of competing for GB after having my leg amputated," he said.

"It was 18 months after the injury that doctors gave me the option [to amputate] and I've never regretted it."

The snowboarder is competing in the banked slalom and boardercross disciplines in Beijing and thinks he's better prepared the second time around.

"Going into the Beijing Games, I definitely feel calmer.

"I'm not as nervous, because I've experienced the Games before and I've felt what it's like to not do as well as what I want to do.

"So, this time I think my aim is to enjoy it.

"Nine times out of 10, if I'm enjoying myself, the results show for that. Hopefully, it works this time."

Watch: Owen Pick spoke to Forces News about his story ahead of the 2018 Winter Paralympic Games.

In 2012, while in rehabilitation, Pick decided to go after a snowboarding career and, along with the help of military charity Blesma, the military charity for limbless veterans, he's turned that dream into a reality.

He said: "Blesma have supported me from that very first step on a snowboard to every step that followed over the next 10 years.

"My first experience on a snowboard was horrible. The initial three days were hard. I spent most of the time on my face, constantly crashing.

"There was a lot of me punching the snow out of frustration. Then halfway through day four, everything just clicked. It got easier," he added.