A Scots powerlifter and former soldier who lost both his legs in Afghanistan has been selected to represent Team GB in Rio de Janeiro.

Micky Yule's selection for the Paralympics in Rio September 7 to 18 is a dream come true for after injury changed his life.

The 37-year-old former Royal Engineer, who was born in Musselburgh, East Lothian, took up para-powerlifting after he stepped on a pressure-plate IED in Helmand Province.

He lost one leg to amputation caused by the blast and the other while undergoing more than 40 surgeries that followed.

Mr Yule's Rio ambition came as he watched the closing ceremony for the London Paralympics from a military hospital bed in Salisbury.

He often trains in Edinburgh alongside coach Neil Crosbie, of the Institute of Sport, who has been with him since the beginning.

Despite a rigorous training schedule for Rio, Mr Yule is committed to making a special trip to Perthshire over the weekend of June 11 to 12 in support of the 2016 Cateran Yomp, for which he is an ambassador this year.

The annual endurance event raises funds for ABF The Soldiers' Charity, a cause Mr Yule benefited from when he needed weights and other equipment to train at home following his injury.

He said: "I am well aware that as a paralympian and a powerlifter I am in a minority sport and that sponsorship is very hard to come by, so the belief that Alliance Trust has shown in me by sponsoring my training programme as I worked towards Rio and asking me to be the latest Cateran Yomp ambassador is an enormous privilege."

After narrowly missing out on a medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Mr Yule led Britain's powerlifting team in the inaugural Invictus Games in London, winning a gold medal.

He said: "Its going to be a busy few months but I'm really looking forward to my new Ambassador duties, visiting Blairgowrie in June where the Yomp starts and ends and cheering on the fundraisers committed to pushing themselves to the limits and raising money for The Soldiers' Charity."

Major General Martin Rutledge, chief executive of ABF The Soldiers' Charity, said: "Micky Yule is an inspiration to all and we are delighted to support him on his quest for gold in Rio."

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