Register, who had qualified for the US Olympic trials in 1988 and 1992 at the 110m hurdles and 400m hurdles respectively, experienced a life-changing event on May 17, 1994 when a faulty landing after a hurdle hyper-extended his left knee, resulting in an injury which severed the popiliteal artery.

An attempt to reconstruct the artery using a vein from his right leg failed, and within days gangrene had turned the muscle black. Amputation was suggested, the alternative being a useless left knee and ankle which would confine him to a wheelchair.

With a strong religious belief and the support of his wife, Alice, behind him, Register chose amputation. He began to use sport as rehabilitation so effectively that he was selected for the 1996 Paralympics as a swimmer.

While watching television during the Paralympics he saw athletes with one leg running on the track, and soon afterwards began running himself with a prosthesis.

At the next Paralympics, in 2000, he was fifth in the 100 and 200 metres, and also earned the silver medal in the long jump with an American record of 5.41 metres.

In 2003 he joined the USOC and began managing the Paralympic Academy Youth Outreach Programme as well as directing the USOC’s Paralympic Military programmes.

Before the Warrior Games got underway, he told insideworldparasport that his main hope for them would be the legacies it would provide, explaining: "The Games will be filled with esprit de corps, competition and camaraderie. But the real legacy of these Games will be the friendships made and the impacts it will have on the service -member, family members and the units the service members return home to. 

"I foresee this being a new way for the military to offer physical training for her wounded vets. Senior vets gone on record in describing the 'liberation of sport' in the wake of traumatic injury.

"It is the magical moment when the person realises that this disability is only prescribed as such by the label placed on 'me.' That label of being disabled does not define me. Sport is one avenue where this revelation comes to fruition."

Of his own traumatic injury, he reflected: "My choice was not as hard as most people think. First, I was in tremendous pain and I wanted the pain to go away. Second, I knew that I did not want to have to rely on a wheelchair, walker or cane to get around if I had a choice in the matter.  I knew that I would be able to walk on an artificial leg."

Register’s (pictured) experience of the Gulf War may have left him with some of the effects suffered by many of those servicemen eligible for the Warrior Games. "I was a single channel operator attached to 6/27 FA out of Fort Sill," he said. "In headquarters command I assisted the commander in providing 'flash' traffic on enemy position and ‘friendly’ movements. I also assisted the commander (as a driver) by using radio and satellite GPS tracking to move our Battery from one firing location to another.

"Alice, my wife, stated that I was distant for about six to seven months after returning home from the Desert. I don’t think I have any lasting effects but then again I have not truly been checked for Desert Storm conditions."

As well as earning the silver medal at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Register also won four national championships while attending the University of Arkansas.

"My Paralympic experience was filled with perseverance (to relearn how to run), family (for allowing me to understand how much love and belief they had for me) and friendships (of people who assisted me monetarily, prayerfully, and coaching wise)," he said.

"The medal podium ceremony allowed me to see that the perspective of my entire sporting career had come down to that one silver medal.  It reminds me to this day about all the people who were a part of that journey.  But it also reminds me that the journey is never fulfilled until you show someone else the path to achieve their dreams. And for me, that journey continues through helping service-members and civilians alike find their voice again after injury."

He believes it is possible that some of those taking part in the first Warrior Games may go on to become Paralympians, but stresses that it is not a crucial factor.

"There maybe some at the Warrior Games that fit a Paralympic profile," he said. "Some of those may be very athletic and may be identified by our coaching staff to train with our national teams after making a military standard.

"But just because they are athletic does not mean that they have the skill set it takes to be the best in the world and make a US Paralympic team. Those that want to pursue the Paralympic Games I would certainly help do so vigorously, but the main mission is for them to realise that life is not over and they can still accomplish whatever they want to despite having what the world calls a disability.



"All of us have challenges and obstacles in our lives. I would assume that there will be some service members competing who have very tough challenges both physically and mentally.  What number that might be, I have no idea. But I do know that the Warrior Games will be a chance for them to move out of their comfort zone and focus on sport again."

As for the question of whether Britain should consider setting up a similar competition to the Warrior Games, he responded: "My vision since the time I began this programme in 2004 has always been for an international Paralympic Military competition from all the branches around the world, a true camaraderie of sport from friendly and opposing forces.

"I continue to state that the most powerful moment I my life was sitting in a dining room with NATO and non-NATO troops during a CISM (International Military Sports Council) competition in Lido di Ostia, Italy and learning about other cultures.

"When I watch Israel and Iraq walk in during the CISM games I realise just how powerful sport can be to opening up dialogues between nations to have peaceful solutions. Yes, I would encourage Great Britain to have Warrior Games competition and invite me to be the marshall!"

Mike Rowbottom, one of Britain's most talented sportswriters, has covered the last five Summer and four Winter Olympics for The Independent. Previously he has worked for the Daily Mail, The Times, The Observer, the Sunday Correspondent and The Guardian. He is now chief feature writer for insidethegames