The medals may not come this time around, but for injured American soldier Aaron Stewart, these Invictus Games in Toronto feel just right as he competes as a man for the first time.

Stewart, 33, has competed in swimming and recumbent cycling in two other Invictus Games as a woman, winning eight medals, including two golds. This time, going up against men makes the competition tougher but that doesn鈥檛 matter to Stewart.

鈥淚t鈥檚 completely different. The competition itself is different and I feel comfortable this year because I鈥檓 able to compete as myself,鈥� the Missouri native said on CTV鈥檚 Your Morning Friday.

鈥淟ast year I wasn鈥檛 able to do that. It鈥檚 an amazing experience.鈥�

Stewart, who legally changed his gender last year, had to withdraw from the swimming competition Thursday after developing a migraine. Still, he was satisfied.

鈥淚 competed with the men and I got third in my heat, which was better than I anticipated. The competition is really tough.鈥�

He finished sixth in his cycling event Wednesday.

Stewart is among 550 ill, injured or wounded servicemen and women from 17 countries taking part in 12 adaptive sports at the week-long Invictus Games in Toronto.

Stewart was forced to leave the army as a sergeant in 2010 after a serious back injury suffered while serving in Kuwait. He has battled severe pain, depression and anxiety since and found adaptive sports to be a 鈥渓ifesaver鈥� and a way to continue serving his country.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted in July that he would reinstate a ban on transgender people serving in the military. That would kill former U.S. president Barack Obama鈥檚 move ¬- still under review - that would allow transgender soldiers to serve openly.

Stewart says Trump鈥檚 proposal is 鈥渦njust.鈥�

鈥淚 have friends who currently serve, who have served, I served as a transgender individual. I was able to do my job and I received awards for doing my job well. There were no issues with me being transgender so I don鈥檛 understand how someone鈥檚 gender identity correlates to their ability to do their job,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a bit of an insult saying that my service wasn鈥檛 valued.鈥�

Stewart, who was born Bethany Erin Stewart, said some fellow soldiers and superior officers knew of his intention to transition his gender and had no problem with it.

There are between 1,320 and 6,630 active in the U.S. military, according to a , a nonprofit policy institute.

Stewart, making his first visit to Canada, says the Invictus Games, which close Saturday, bring together veterans who automatically share camaraderie.

鈥淵ou support each other and cheer each on no matter what country you鈥檙e from because we鈥檝e all been through something tragic.鈥�