Andrew White

A journey from injury to international honours

Andrew White always knew he wanted to follow the family tradition and join the forces - his granddad served in World War II and his dad in the Artillery. In 2012 young Andrew, a former Okehampton College student, signed up with the Army and after basic training joined the Coldstream Guards.

His face lights up as he recalls taking part in the Trooping of the Colour in London: ‘It was amazing; a lot of hard work practising to get to the Coldstream standards but on the day I was almost the end marker, about four metres from the Queen, which was a huge honour!’

The young guardsman relished Army life, taking part in the Cambrian Patrol, one of the most challenging competitions in the world and quickly becoming promoted before embarking on a four-month tour in Afghanistan in 2014. ‘I had a really good and successful tour. You are surrounded by a group of colleagues you spend so much time with, you know what’s expected of you and you’ve done all the training, you just bond so well - I really enjoyed it.'

Following his tour Andrew experienced his first taste of long distance cycling in an event organised by the Coldstream Guards, chalking up the fastest time of all the participants, before embarking on a six week deployment in Kenya. It was after this that Andrew’s life took a completely unexpected turn. On exercises in the Brecon Beacons, he suffered a severe non-freezing cold injury. Having lost the feeling in both his feet, he was later medically discharged from the Army.

‘I was 18 when I joined the Army and ready to do my full 22 years. I wanted to do it all, become a Sergeant Major then commission as an officer. Leaving was a massive blow, it was a very difficult time, not only for me but also for my wife. I had worked so hard to keep my medical record clean. To have this happen was a big shock.’  Andrew also began to lose co-ordination and developed difficulties walking. ‘I spent ten months indoors. I went from running a mile and half in eight minutes to sitting on the sofa watching Jeremy Kyle!  I wasn't the best person to be around, but I was getting married at the end of the year and I realised I had to buck my ideas up and step up to the plate.’

Andrew started riding a static bike indoors and the improvements to his health were dramatic.  ‘Would I say cycling saved my life? Probably not, but I certainly don’t think I would have got married!’

The idea of competing in the Invictus Games, the Olympic-style event for wounded servicemen, championed enthusiastically by Prince Harry, came when Andrew was completing core recovery events at the Help for Heroes centre at Tedworth House.

On his return to Devon he contacted Nigel Hale-Hunter of BPM Coaching, who agreed to coach Andrew for the cycling events. He joined Okehampton Cycling Club, meeting new friends while welcoming the social and sporting opportunities, plus the competitive life he craved.

Andrew trained hard - very hard - for a year and was rewarded with a coveted place in the GB Invictus team which travelled to the games in Canada in September.  However, just days before he was due to head out to the games he took a 45mph downhill tumble and he arrived in Canada with severe gravel rash and his brand new GB kit rather shredded!

But the miles and miles of training, the strict diet to get his body fat down to just over 7%, paid off. He took silver in the men’s 5K time trial and followed that with gold in the IRB Criterium.

‘It was such an experience, it was like being on top of the world, absolutely mind-blowing! They were ten, wonderful days.'  Andrew is now setting his sights on national cycling racing honours.

Jane Honey