In 2005 Aggar was a rugby player at the University of Warwick. During an evening out with friends, he slipped eight feet onto a concrete slab. He had broken his back, damaged his spinal cord, and lost the use of his legs. Aggar took up rowing as part of his rehabilitation in 2007 and has never been beaten. He won the Paralympic gold in Beijing in the single sculls event, and is keen to repeat that feat in London. “I’m so proud to have been selected into such a strong GB team,” he told the BBC in June. “I’m under no illusions that it will be tougher competition than Beijing but competing in a home Games is a great opportunity.”
20 Paralympic Athletes to Watch at London 2012
From Australia to Great Britain, South Africa to the U.S., TIME takes you around the globe to meet the compelling and inspiring athletes competing at the London Paralympics.
Tom Aggar
Rowing, Great Britain
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Paralympians to Watch