By Emily Goddard

Rico Roman has been named as one of the honorary torchbearers for the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Warrior Games ©Getty ImagesParalympic ice sledge hockey champions Rico Roman and Paul Schaus have been named as honorary torchbearers for the Opening Ceremony of this year's Warrior Games in Colorado Springs.

The American Sochi 2014 and former World Championship gold medal winners, who are an Army veteran and Marine Corps veteran respectively and were both wounded by improvised explosive devices while serving in Iraq, will join around 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans at the Games in the United States city.

"It's a huge honour for me to be selected alongside Paul to serve as the torchbearers for the Warrior Games," Roman said.

"As a veteran myself, I know what an impact it made on my recovery to be introduced to Paralympic sports, and I'm so excited to be able to encourage the next generation of veterans and service members as they start their own Paralympic journeys."

United States Olympic Committee chief executive Scott Blackmun said he is "honoured" to have the pair at the Warrior Games Opening Ceremony.

Paul Schaus will join Rico Roman as an honorary torchbearer for the Warrior Games ©Getty ImagesPaul Schaus will join Rico Roman as an honorary torchbearer for the Warrior Games
©Getty Images


"Watching these men compete as part of the Bravo Delta line [the front line they formed to win at the Paralympics] in Sochi, it was evident that with the right support our wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans can not only use Paralympic sport as a means of rehabilitation, but also to lead the way for Team USA to the top of the podium," he added.

The Warrior Games will take place from September 28 to October 4 at venues across Colorado Springs, including the US Olympic Training Centre, Fort Carson, the Garry Berry Stadium and the US Air Force Academy.

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