One of the most accomplished adaptive rowers in the world, veteran American rower Angela Madsen Thursday shared her secret to success: The will to keep chasing dreams.

"You can't help something grow if you are not part of it," said Madsen. "You can't sit on the sidelines To help something grow, you have to work at it."

Leading from the start of the race, the 48-year-old and her 41-year-old partner Scott Brown also had to contend with a strong win for their victory in the mixed double sculls Final B -- a non-medal event -- Thursday.

"Since I'm retiring this year from competitive sprint rowing, this will probably be my first and last Paralympics. We just wanted to finish on a winning note," said the former soldier, sitting at the stroke with her partner of six years.

"It's time to pass on the torch, so to speak."

The pair, which won consecutive titles in the mixed double sculls at the 2003 FISA World Champions, also made history by participating in the debut race at the Shunyi rowing park, placing seventh in the event.

Sport has always played a dominant role in Madsen's life. The former military police officer in the US Marine Corps severely injured her back and lost strength below her waist while playing basketball 14 years ago.

But, at the same time, sport also turned her life back around. After trying ocean surfing and rowing on ocean and flatwater, she began rowing in her hometown Long Beach, California.

She teamed up with double-amputee Franck Festor from France to compete in the Atlantic Rowing Race, 2,552 nautical miles in 67 days from the Canary Islands to Antigua, California. The duo was the only team made up of athletes with physical disabilities and finished eighth out of 13 boats.

Madsen credits her ultimate success to the support of family and friends, which she says helped her push through some of the vast and lonely oceans of marathon racing.

"The support of family and friends is very important for anyone It's another branch of support for athletes depending on them just like my own family," said the grandmother of three.

"They live across America, but I see them often," she said.

In her retirement years ahead, Madsen says she plans on visiting family more frequently. But, in between those trips, she says she has no plans to give up on rowing entirely.

"Maybe another ocean row," she said, smiling.