Moran Samuel boosted her chances of qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro by winning gold at the Rowing World Cup.

Israel’s leading Paralympic rower crossed the line ahead of defending world champion Birgit Skarstin in the ASW 1 1,000m race in Varese, Italy.

Samuel, 33, broke her personal and national best times after coming home in 5:15. She finished six seconds ahead of Skarstin.

"It was a tough race and I knew I would be head to head with the Norwegian,” said Moran.

"I kept a high stroke-rate and I worked hard to fight the side wind and the bumpy waves.

"I'm very happy with the result, which is a huge achievement for me. It’s an important step forward in my journey to Rio.

"I celebrated, but the next day I was once again focused on the next goal.”

Moran, who trains at Gavirate in Italy and at the Daniel Rowing Centre in Tel Aviv, was praised by her coach, Paola
Grizzetti, for showing “total professionalism”. She is a former Israel national basketball player who had her career cut short by a spinal stroke that left her paralysed from the waist down nine years ago.

After what she described as “some incredibly difficult times” she returned to the basketball court, started training with a wheelchair team and soon became captain of Israel’s wheelchair basketball team.

She started rowing five years ago and has quickly progressed to a high level, which saw her finish fifth at London 2012.

Moran holds a Haifa University Masters degree in physiotherapy, specialising in education and early childhood development.

The Israeli 4+ paralympic sweep quad of Nor Mayo, Shay Lee Mizrahi, Barak Hazor and Tsofnat Levanon made a successful debut in the event, finishing sixth in the A final.

Paralympic rowers Reuven Magnagey and Yulia Chernoy took the seventh place in their category in the mixed doubles sculls in 4:16.

But there was disappointment for Israeli champion Dani Fridman who finished in 19th place.