GB stars make history with first ever rowing golds

By Paul Carter

Britain’s Helene Raynsford and Tom Aggar have made history by becoming the first rowing gold medallists at the Paralympics.

The sport long associated with British Olympic success is making its Paralympic debut at the Beijing Games, and Britain’s rowers got off to the perfect start.

Raynsford kicked off proceedings as she swept aside the opposition in the women’s arms-only single scull, winning by 13 seconds from Luidmila Vauchok from Belarus.

The 28-year-old was ahead from the start, and had already built up a four-second lead at 250m.

“I knew if I could get out of the start as quick as I could and get into the lead I could do it. I said after the world championships last year that I would come back and win gold in Beijing,” she said.

Aggar was pushed hard in his race by Ukrainian Oleksandr Petrenko, but did enough to win gold in the men’s arms-only single scull.

“It was a great race, I was happy to be pushed all the way.”

He described his route to Paralympic gold as an “amazing journey”.

He said: “It’s great for our sport. It’s our first year at the Paralympics, so to come out on top is incredible.

“We’ve been rubbing shoulders with the Olympic rowers, and they’re a huge inspiration to us, especially after their success. Hopefully we’ve done them proud.”

(pictured, James Roberts, competing for GB in the trunk and arms mixed double scull)