Zhou Yangjing/Shan Zilong of China won the country's first Paralympic rowing gold medal on September 11.

The pair clocked in at 4 minutes, 20.69 seconds in the mixed double sculls TA level. John Maclean/Kathryn Ross of Australia took the silver; the bronze went to Elton Santana/Josiane Lima of Brazil.

"We were not sure we won the gold until hearing hails and applause from the spectators. To be honest, I did not expect the scene--raising the national flag and playing the national anthem for champions--could happen one day on me. I was so excited that I could not help crying for joy on the podium," said Zhou at the press conference.

Born in 1981 in south China's Guangdong Province, Zhou lost her right leg in a car accident when she was a little girl. She played wheelchair tennis in her spare time and later became a wheelchair fencer.

Rowing was introduced to the Paralympic Games in April 2005. It was not until 2006 that Zhou began rowing training.

Zhou said she would keep on in Para sports and prefer to become a coach after retirement.

"Like Zhou said, I did not expect that we could perform so perfectly in the final. Our components are strong--team Brazil and team Australia won the gold and silver respectively in last year's World Championships where we finished seventh. The gold medal at the Paralympic Games proved our competitiveness," Shan, 24, told the press.