Jon-Allan Butterworth wants more ex-servicemen to achieve Paralympic success

Jon-Allan Butterworth hopes to soon share his status as the only British serviceman injured in the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts to win Paralympic gold.

The 30-year-old from Sutton Coldfield was an RAF weapons technician working in Basra in 2007 when he was caught in a rocket attack and had to have his left arm amputated as a result of his injuries.

He joined the Battleback programme - a partnership between the British Paralympic Association, the Ministry of Defence and military veterans charity Help for Heroes - and now is a Paralympic champion.

Butterworth, who claimed three silver medals at London 2012, won C1-5 team sprint gold with Jody Cundy and Louis Rolfe in the Rio velodrome on the 15th anniversary of 9/11 last month.

"I didn't realise straight away, because I went straight into 'job done, party mode'," Butterworth, speaking as part of the Royal British Legion Industries' #BeBraveWithMe campaign, told Press Association Sport.

"I hadn't really reflected much on that. I still can't believe since the modern Paralympic Games was formed (in 1960), that so few ex-servicemen have succeeded.

"I've proven it can be done, but it's hard. I'd like to be among others, or team-mates that have done likewise, rather than be the only one.

"I feel a bit isolated, almost not part of a team, because I've achieved more."

Of the 264 ParalympicsGB athletes at the Rio Games, seven came through 'the Front Line to Start Line programme', which sees Help for Heroes team up with the British Paralympic Association. Six of the 300-strong team for London 2012 had been supported by Help for Heroes.

Butterworth says the number of ex-service personnel in the ParalympicsGB team shows that it is not simple to transfer from the military to elite sport.

And he wrestled with his own participation in Rio, taking six months out after the 2014 Para-cycling Track World Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico, before his return was delayed by injury.

"I was a bit disillusioned," Butterworth added.

"One day I woke up and thought 'would I regret not trying one last time to win in Rio?'

"I'd won at World Championships and the same people are at World Championships as the Paralympic Games.

"I've proven I've been the best in the world, but people only really remember the Paralympic Games.

"I had to come back. I had this desire to prove a point to myself and others.

"I just couldn't run the risk of regretting it later in life. I tried again and I'm so glad that I did."

Butterworth was given control over his own programme and appointed Olympic medallist and tandem pilot Craig MacLean as his coach. He started going to gym and concentrating on being a sprinter.

He rediscovered his enjoyment and for now sees no reason to stop.

With little track racing in para-cycling - none of the 15 World Championships announced by the UCI on Wednesday were para-cycling track events - Butterworth keeps his competitive edge through motorsport.

"At the moment I'm enjoying it, so I'll carry on," Butterworth, who is working with Mission Motorsport, which uses motor racing in the rehabilitation of military veterans.

"If you've got the opportunity to keep on doing it, I don't see any reason to retire just yet.

"It's an opportunity that shouldn't be sniffed at."

:: Support for Britain's Bravest, a division of military charity Royal British Legion Industries, launched its #BeBraveWithMe campaign to fund more places on LifeWorks courses. LifeWorks is delivered across the country to hundreds of ex-service personnel each year. www.bebravewithme.org.uk