Aggar (pictured top) had never been beaten in international competition before, but he finished fourth as China's Cheng Huang took gold.

Huang had only been competing for a year, while Aggar himself was only in his second year when he won gold at Beijing 2008 – the first Paralympics at which rowing had been included on the programme.

"I knew it was going to be difficult, and that I needed to be at the top of my game and produce my best on the day," said the 28-year-old Londoner.

"I just did not have it on the day.

"I felt as strong as I've ever been, as fit as ever.

"I was shocked, it's still difficult to get my head around it – that is the sport and unfortunately I was not able to step it up."

Tom Aggar took gold for Britain at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

Aggar has a remarkable story to tell, having slipped and fell onto a concrete path in 2005, which caused a severe spinal injury and left him paralysed in his legs.

He took up rowing during his rehabilitation and competed at a national championship in 2006 using a device that used electrical currents to activate his nerves.

A rugby player before his accident, Aggar has since won four world titles in addition to his gold medal from Beijing.

Aggar now plans to take a few months off and, as he puts it, restore some "balance" after the hectic schedule he has had in the build up to London, particularly given his status as one of Britain's supposedly nailed on gold medal contenders.

A chat with his wife has convinced Aggar that he wants to continue through to the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016.

"I will take a break now, reassess and get a bit of perspective, get back to a bit of normality and work out when I want to start back," he said.

"I definitely do not want to stop.

"I was speaking to my wife and she was asking do you really want to carry on?

"I was like 'well I do and I don't.'

"She said you do not want to stop because everyone will think it is because you did not win.

"It's not that at all – I still relish racing the best people in the world and we will see.

"It's been such a hard year.

"It has been so insular so it will be nice to get a bit more of a balance and just enjoy the training."

Tom Aggar plans to compete at the next Summer Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in four years' time

Aggar also admits he has been taken aback by the level of the support he and his fellow Paralympians have received from the British public.

"The great thing about the public is they want British athletes to win and there is no difference with the Olympic athletes," he explained.

"They are seeing how hard people train and...I think at the Paralympic Games there is that personal side to it as well.

"Loads of people have setbacks and there is that human side people can embrace."

Aggar went on to say that London has definitely beaten his experience of Beijing four years' ago.

"[Eton Dorney] was absolutely rammed, the level of noise through the stadium was just phenomenal," he said.

"It has definitely surpassed my experience of Beijing, it has been incredible.

"There is a lot more people, a friendlier vibe."

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