Para-rower 'wanted to make history' with gold win

A Paralympic champion who became the first woman to win a rowing gold at three games said she had been motivated to "make history".

Lauren Rowles, from Bromsgrove, claimed the mixed double sculls victory alongside Gregg Stevenson in Paris on Sunday.

The 26-year-old said her training programme was the hardest she had ever done as the competition got tougher each year.

"When you're the one being chased you are the favourites to win, you've got a target on your back and I think that makes it even harder," she said.

"We want to win and we want to make history, so you sacrifice more and more," she added.

The pair left it late to claim a gold on Sunday

Rowles said she had "sacrificed so much" for this year's games, which included being away from her partner, Paralympic basketball player Jude Hamer, and five-month-old son Noah.

"It has been the hardest thing to be away from them for a month," she said.

Hamer said it had been "such an experience" to watch Rowles live for the first time and be a part of the crowd.

"To have that moment with the three of us, what an achievement for us as a family," Rowles said.

She described "winning gold as the best feeling in the world".

"I still can't quite believe it today, the weight of what we've done," she added.