DEFENDING Paralympic champion Tom Aggar will focus on what he does best when he begins his London 2012 journey tomorrow (Friday).

Aggar won gold in Beijing and has dominated the men's single scull for the past four years, winning virtually every title he has gone for.

The Maidenhead-based rower is now intent on replicating his success in three days' time, although he revealed that a gold medal at Eton Dorney would be even sweeter than four years ago.

Speaking at the GB base in Caversham, he said: "I try to put it [the pressure] aside and focus on how I've prepared in previous years and try and replicate the same thing and try and move on and improve my personal best score.

"We're really seeing the performances step on since Beijing." He added: "It being a home games and having the team we have, it would be fantastic to replicate the same success and it would mean a lot more to me." He counts Russia and China as his main rivals for the Olympic title, which they will contest on Sunday.

With the success of the GB Olympic team, rowing is now in the limelight like never before and that can only help the Paralympic cause, as Aggar explained: "It was unprecedented for a rowing nation to come back with so many medals.

"With the buzz the Olympics has given, people want more and people want to go and see the sport.

"It's phenomenal, people are really getting excited about the Paralympics. I would never have imagined it would be as big as it is.

"I can't wait to get there and feel the atmosphere." Aggar, who only lives 15 minutes away from Eton Dorney, will have plenty of support from family and friends, including people he has known since primary school.

The 28-year-old will be part of an eight-strong GB team in the rowing events, with the mixed coxed four going in as world champions, while the mixed double scull of Samantha Scowen and Nick Beighton, who lost his legs in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan, will be making their Paralympic debut.

The squad are currently staying at Royal Holloway, Egham until Sunday but will then move to the Paralympic Village in Stratford on Monday.

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