Gregg Stevenson is learning from a legend on his rowing journey

Colne rower Gregg Stevenson is relishing a new partnership with a Paralympic legend. Stevenson is a former Green Beret Army Commando who lost both of his legs when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2009. Ad Now taking a second bite at the rowing cherry, having tried the sport after the Invictus Games in 2012, Stevenson will make his international debut this week.

RowingLauren Rowles hopes new partnership pushes her to Paris ParalympicsAN HOUR AGO He'll partner two-time Paralympic gold medallist Lauren Rowles at the European Championships, staged at Slovenia's Lake Bled from May 25-28. Stevenson said: “It's super motivational, training every day with Lauren who has won everything there is to win in the sport," he said. «To learn from her and get her advice, as well as from the coaches, has been brilliant.» Rowles won back-to-back Paralympic titles with Laurence Whiteley at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, as well as a world title in 2019.

She is aiming to become the first British rower to win three Paralympic titles at Paris 2024. «Lauren makes the most out of every session,» she said. «She turns up, she works hard and she's present.

Just to see that and try to emulate it is the aim. »It's learning how to work hard but also how to work smart — unfortunately for me, it's not just hitting it as hard as I can!" Rowles is equally effusive about her new partner in crime. «There's always some level of apprehension when you start racing with somebody new and a process of learning what makes them tick,» she said.