World Rowing said Aggar, coached by Tom Dyson, had "set the standard in adaptive rowing" and paid tribute to his continuing unbeaten run at international level during which he has twice lowered his own world best time.

The 26-year-old Londoner won the arms-only single scull at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, less than two years after taking up the sport.

Aggar, who played rugby with the Saracens youth development squad, started rowing as part of a rehabilitation programme, following an accident in 2005 which left him paralysed.

He won his category at the 2006 Indoor Rowing Championships and became world champion in his first season in international competition a year later.

But Aggar remains modest about his achievements.

"It's worked out really well, I've been quite fortunate to have a good string of results," he said.

Aggar won gold at the 2010 World Rowing Championships in New Zealand, 13 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

He claimed the sport, which only made its Paralympic debut in 2008 has developed in recent years.

"Since the lead in to Beijing and after it has really progressed in terms of its professionalism," he said.

"We train six days a week, two or three sessions a day, we go on training camps two or three times a year."


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