BROMSGROVE rower Lauren Rowles crowned a golden year at the Paralympics with a homecoming tour last week, closing the curtain on a "sensational" summer in Rio.

The 18-year-old won a gold medal alongside her partner Laurence Whiteley in the mixed double sculls in September, just a year after her transition to the sport from athletics.

She was cheered on by thousands of supporters at victory parades in Manchester and London last week, capping her experience off with a royal invite to Buckingham Palace.

Lauren said: "I feel the parades signified the end to the Rio Games and since then it has really sunk in how much of an amazing summer we have had.

"I think I can speak on behalf of all the athletes when I say that we loved every moment of the parades and despite the rain the crowds persevered and stayed to see every athlete.

"The parades are days I’ll never forget and the feeling you get when you see people’s faces light up in the crowds when you wave at them is unforgettable.

"The Games only happen every four years so you definitely treasure those moments.

"Meeting the Queen was an honour. She was very lovely and was really interested on our experiences in Rio. It really marks the end of the Games and what a way to finish it off!"

The teenager, from Cofton Hackett, was diagnosed with transverse myelitis at the age of just 13, which caused her to lose the use of her legs.

Yet, inspired by the London Paralympics, she soon found salvation in sport.

She began competing in wheelchair racing in 2012 before moving into rowing last summer, with gold at her debut Paralympics leaving her rightfully proud of her achievements.

She added: "My experience at the Paralympics was sensational. I loved every moment.

"I’m incredibly proud to win gold and since Rio I really feel that.

"It’s been a really tough four years and also a really tough Paralympic year for me so to come out the other end of that as a Paralympic Champion is just the best feeling.

"Of course you feel overjoyed at your performance but after training for four years day-in-day-out for so many hours a day it’s the relief that all that hard work has paid off.

"None of this would be possible without the support and guidance from my family who continue to support me and be proud of my achievements. I do it just as much for them as I do for myself."

GB’s Paralympics team won 147 medals in Rio – marking their best medal haul since Seoul 1988 – and Rowles, already eying her next Paralympics, hopes the sport can progress.

She said: "I hope that the legacy from Rio will be to strengthen the legacy from London and to introduce more people into Paralympic sports and more sports into the Paralympics.

"I also hope that Para sport will get more attention and coverage all year round not just once every four years.

"I’m definitely staying on for Tokyo 2020 in order to try and retain our Paralympic title!"

After a few weeks off, Rowles is back in training for the World Championships in Florida next year – juggling sessions with a new challenge, studying law at Oxford Brookes University.

She added: "University has been a different experience.

"It’s been a good focus for me coming home and thinking about life after rowing and what I would like to do in my life long term.

"It’s also nice to see people’s reactions when they find out where I have been all summer!"