Alongside Marine Corps Corporal Paul Schaus - two of the team that won ice sledge hockey gold at Sochi 2014 for the United States - he helped mark the culmination of an energetic Opening Ceremony today at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Army Captain Frank Barroqueiro, Marine Corporal Jorge Salazar, retired Navy Chief Yeoman Sharona Young, Air Force Master Sergeant Axel Gaud-Torres and retired Amy Sergeant 1st Class Doug Franklin, also took part in the Torch Relay before Roman completed its final journey.

The Games, presented by Deloitte, will see more than 200 ill and injured service members and veterans taking part in seven sports: archery, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball.

Athletes represent Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Special Operations.

Commenting on being asked to light the cauldron, Roman said: "Of course, I immediately said yes.

"I'm truly humbled to be a part of this."

He added: "I recognised a lot of guys from my rehab at Brooke [Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas], and from Walter Reed [National Military Medical Center, in Bethesda, Maryland].

"It was really touching seeing all of their faces, I really felt like I was going to cry.

"Before I walked up those steps to light the torch, I just thought about everybody who helped me get here.

"I was thinking about my family, Operation Comfort [which provides support to injured service members] and everyone that supported me along the way to get to this point.

"I couldn't have done it without them."

The Warrior Games will see more than 200 ill and injured service members compete
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Roman, a native of Portland, Oregon, and a Purple Heart recipient, had his left leg amputated above the knee after he was wounded by an improvised explosive device while serving his third tour in Iraq in February 2007.

He won gold in March as part of an ice sledge hockey team that beat hosts Russia in the final 1-0, becoming the first nation to successfully defend a Paralympic title in sledge hockey.

The Warrior Games are due to run until Saturday (October 4).

They are taking place at the US Olympic Training Center and the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.