BARNET rower Tom Aggar has vowed to prove he’s on course to claim back-to-back Paralympic titles by booking his London 2012 spot at the first time of asking this summer.

The 26-year-old former Queen Elizabeth’s School pupil, who suffered a severe spinal injury in a fall six years ago, went from rookie to Paralympic champion in just 18 months when he crossed the line first in Beijing.

Aggar, a former Saracens rugby youth, hasn’t let up since and claimed his fourth successive title at November’s World Championships in New Zealand.

A repeat showing in at this year’s worlds in Slovenia in August will rubber stamp Aggar’s spot at the London Games – and increase the sense a second Olympic gold is a foregone conclusion.

“There are 12 spots for a Paralympic regatta and eight of those come through from this year’s World Championships,” said Aggar, speaking at the launch of the BMW London 2012 Performance Team at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

“Obviously it is quite important for those guys to get the slot and to get a high ranking as well to give you a good lead going in to the new season.

“There are then four after that, but I am really looking to get in the top eight for 2012.

“I try and set myself high standards and I will be looking to get one of the top two spots for 2012. “I think if you do that it puts extra pressure on the other competitors as they have to look at beating me so I am looking to put in some big performances and then building on those.

“I was fortunate to win the gold medal at last year’s World Championships so I’m obviously in good shape still, putting in strong performances both in training and in competition so I know what we are doing in training is definitely working.”

Aggar was favourite for gold heading into Beijing and duly lived up to his billing – leaving Ukrainian silver medallist Oleksandr Petrenko and Israeli bronze medal winner Eli Nawi trailing in his wake.

The Royal Docks Rowing Club member shortened the odds on himself winning gold in London by finishing with a 13-second margin at last year’s World Championships and admits he’ll be interested to see how the rest of the world responds this summer.

“I have a big year coming up in terms of qualification and we have a big qualification regatta coming up,” added Aggar.

“I’m looking to go there and put in a big performance, especially with only one year to go until London 2012.

“The regatta is going to be out in Lake Bled in Slovenia and hopefully there will be plenty of competitors from China and Korea and other countries from Asia as otherwise you don’t get to have a look at them as they spend a lot of time competing in Asia.

“Among the stronger nations are Ukraine, the Australians have got a strong squad but everyone raises their game a year before the Olympics so it will be interesting to see how everyone is getting on,” he said BMW London 2012 Performance Team, an initiative designed to provide Team GB and ParalympicsGB with support as they prepare for the Games. To follow the performance journey of the 25 athletes visit www.bmw.co.uk/london2012