LAUREN Rowles’ remarkable switch from the track to the water continued as she won silver at the World Rowing Championships in France and also qualified for the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

The Bromsgrove teenager and Laurence Whiteley got off to a flying start in their mixed double scull final in a tight field where Brazil, France, Australia and the GB Rowing Team all had medals within their reach.

As the race moved to halfway the Australians were leading and Rowles and Whiteley, from Bromsgrove and Northallerton respectively, went with them.

For such a rookie double there was the somewhat bizarre sense they might – just a few short months after combining in the boat – surprise everyone and take the gold only for Australia to find another gear when it counted to take the verdict in 4:03.51 to GB’s 4:04.03.

Rowles admitted the return to Worcestershire with a silver medal was more than she expected.

She said: “The dream outcome was for us to make the A final but for us to win a medal, no words can explain it."

Whiteley had persisted with his lonely training schedule for two years hoping that a suitably classified female would emerge.

Rowles came to the fore after a chance meeting between her and GB Rowing Team staff when both were at Stoke Mandeville hospital recently.

“So far so good. We have only been rowing together for two or three months and I’m looking forward to next year,” said Whiteley.

Former North Bromsgrove student Rowles, who now studies at Edwards Sixth Form College in Stourbridge, was a budding young sports star when she was struck down by paralysing illness tranverse myelitis, which left her in a wheelchair.

Rowles hasn't allowed the life changing event to dent her desire to compete and she reached the final of the T54 women’s 1500 metres at the Commonwealth Games.