BROMSGROVE’S Lauren Rowles has defended her Paralympic title in Tokyo, adding to Team GB’s growing medal haul.

Rowles and her partner Laurence Whiteley won gold in the PR2 mixed double sculls on Sunday, five years after winning gold in Rio.

It was an extra special day as Whiteley also celebrated his 30th birthday on the same day as winning gold.

The pair crossed the line just under five seconds ahead of Dutch duo Annika Van Der Meer and Corne De Koning, with Chinese pair Liu Shuang and Jiang Jijian almost 10.5 seconds off the pace in the bronze medal position.

Speaking of her partner's birthday, Rowles said: "It's a big one today for this birthday geezer.

"We came in this morning and embarrassed him.

"All the volunteers put little signs out, they made little cranes for him. They just love us being here.

"We love them. It's the environment, the atmosphere, it's been so nice to feel, in a way, at home here, having no spectators, having no family here.

"You feel like every Japanese person that lives out here is supporting you.

"Every single one of the volunteers has said happy birthday to him today. They're such a welcoming bunch of people."

Scarborough-born Whiteley - who has limb deficiency following treatment for bone cancer - had relatively modest celebration plans.

"I might have a birthday muffin," he said.

"We did what we set out to do. We have a lot of trust in each other, and we have a lot of confidence in our own abilities.

"There's a lot that goes on to put us on the start line, then it's down to me and Lauren to deliver on that."