Invictus Games: Gold for Great Britain’s wheelchair basketballers
Delvin Maston (left) of the USA and Andrew McErlean (centre) of Great Britain in action in the Wheelchair Basketball final (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) - Credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images
The roof of the Copper Box was well and truly raised tonight as Great Britain enjoyed a second victory over the USA in as many days.
Following on from their closely-contested final in wheelchair rugby last night, victories over France and Denmark in the semi-finals pitched the two teams together once more to battle it out in the wheelchair basketball final.
But it could not have been any more different as the British team romped to a convincing 19-9 win over their American counterparts.
Former air trooper Lee Matthews, 26, took up the sport following an accident which left him with nerve damage.
He said: “They said it was sold out but I never really expected it to be like this.
“It’s brilliant to have this amount of support.”
The packed Copper Box cheered every moment, with one young fan having an extra special memento from his day at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Most Read
- 1 Newham A Level results 2022: Live updates for borough's schools
- 2 Colleges offer 'alternative paths' towards fruitful careers, principal says
- 3 London Assembly: TfL urged to rethink plans to cut 78 bus routes
- 4 West Ham United reveal Thames Ironworks-inspired third kit
- 5 Kehrer can 'bring a number of things' to West Ham United
- 6 Reward offered to trace Maryland fatal stabbing 'suspect'
- 7 West Ham United tie is big deal for Danes warns Reid
- 8 Thames Water: Hosepipe ban announced for London and Thames Valley
- 9 Jailed: Eight east London offenders locked up in July
- 10 West Ham United's Areola aiming for one better in Europe
USA player Delvin Maston handed the boy his shirt after the match, and hopes the youngster will be inspired by it as he grows up.
He said: “That kid was standing up all the way and he stood up the game before; he was immense.
“There’s going to come a time where he’s going to have some kind of adversity.
“If he doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do he can always look at that jersey and say I saw some guys overcome adversity.”
Read more: