Willie Apiata performs the haka at Invictus Games

Willie Apiata VC performs the NZDF haka in honour of Dan Crawford's bronze medal at the Invictus games in Toronto. Photo / NZDF via Twitter

Victoria Cross winner Willie Apiata performed the New Zealand Defence Force haka, celebrating New Zealand's first win at Toronto's Invictus Games.

The Games began two days ago and today Whangarei navy officer Dan Crawford has claimed New Zealand's first medal.

The 26-year-old lieutenant in the New Zealand Navy claimed bronze in the Men's IT7 1500m.

Apiata was captured on camera in an Invictus Games T-shirt, a pair of shorts and what appear to be jandals, performing the NZDF's haka in the stands in Crawford's honour.

Now in its third edition, the Games were started in 2014 by Prince Harry and were inspired by the United States' Warrior Games.

Competitors are drawn from 17 countries, including the UK, US, Canada and Australia, with the US alone sending 90 athletes. All are former or serving members of the military, many of whom suffered life-changing injuries during combat.

Other countries taking part in this year's event include France, Germany, Estonia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Italy. Servicemen and women from Ukraine, the Netherlands, Denmark and New Zealand will also compete.

The Games were opened on Sunday (NZ time), with the opening ceremony attended by Prince Harry and his girlfriend, the actress Meghan Markle.