SOUTHAMPTON AC sprinter Dave Henson has booked his ticket to Rio.

The 31-year-old from Southampton is among 41 athletes added to the track and field line-up for Paralympics GB.

Serviceman Henson, who took up sport following his rehabilitation from injury in Afghanistan in 2011, will compete in both the T42 100 and 200 metres.

It follows a season of continual improvement, including a lifetime 200m best  time of 25.05 seconds posted in the IPC grand final at London’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Henson, a newcomer to Paralympics GB team, said: “It’s always an honour to represent your country and I’m so proud that I will be making my Paralympic debut in Rio.

“This is the real pinnacle of our sport and a huge amount of hard work has gone on behind the scenes, day in and day out, to make this happen.

“I can’t wait to go out and compete in Brazil and give a lifetime best performance on the track.”

Southampton AC are naturally brimming with pride about Henson’s selection, their only regret being that they don’t see enough of him.

“Dave is unfortunately not a regular visitor to our Sports Centre track because the lack of basic infrastructure does not support the needs of a Paralympian and Dave therefore trains at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth,” explained club spokesman Andy Fisher.

“The club is, however, bursting with pride at life member Dave’s achievements and we will all be rooting for him in Rio.”

A former Army captain, Henson served with the Royal Engineers and lost both his legs when he stepped on an IED in February 2011 when on patrol in Helmand, Afghanistan.

He subsequently spent five weeks in the care of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital before being sent to the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court.

Swimming was a vital part of his recovery, he learned to ski in 2012 and the following year he linked up with sprint coach Roger Keller.

He did a master’s degree in biomedical engineering, graduating with merit in 2014. Meanwhile, he continued his athletics training, getting involved with the Invictus Games for injured servicemen and women, championed by Prince Harry. He took home gold medals in sitting volleyball and the 200m sprint.

Henson returned to the Invictus Games this year in Orlando, reclaiming his T42 200m title with Prince Harry watching on from trackside.

Interviewed by the UK military charity Help For Heroes, Henson said: “Everyone’s got the right to access sport regardless of your ability or disability.

"For the military though, sport is massively important because it forms such an important part of our normal everyday working life pre-injury, so for us to have the ability to regain what we might have thought was lost is huge.”