Helene Raynsford won the gold medal in the inaugural women’s Paralympic Rowing event at Beijing 2008.

She started rowing in 2005, quickly progressing to become the AW1x world champion the following year, her first year of international competition. She then finished fifth at the 2007 world championships to clinch Beijing 2008 qualification.

At the Games, Raynsford won the women's Single Sculls AW1x at the Shunyi Rowing Lake by a 12-second margin, in a time of 6.12:93.

Raynsford previously competed as part of the GB women's wheelchair basketball team, winning Paralympic World Cup silver medals in 2005 and 2006.