From Para athlete to para-athlete Scott Meenagh's life was initially transformed in an instant and then, again, during four years of hard work that have put him in contention for a trip to Rio de Janeiro next year.

The 25-year-old from Cumbernauld made his British international rowing debut last month at a para-rowing meet in Gavirate, Italy, winning gold and bronze medals and, as he finalised his preparations for this weekend's Scottish National Rowing Championships - which will see 700 entrants aged from 11 to 71 compete at Strathclyde Park today and tomorrow - he explained how he has his sights set on making GB training partner Lawrence Whiteley's life as uncomfortable as possible in the pursuit of the single available place in the Paralympic team next year.

"What was reassuring with the way it went was that when I came onto the squad last month the coaches were seeing it as bringing me onto the squad as a prospect for Tokyo (but) with the performances I was able to put down in Gaverati I maybe over-achieved on what they expected from a first performance," said Meenagh.

"I feel I'm actually now a realistic prospect to challenge for a seat to go to Rio and that's exciting. The chances are very slim, but it's a chance. I need to work very, very hard and I can't slacken off ever."

Very much a newcomer to the sport he started working with coach John Blair two years ago and, as well as finding his own way on the water he has been working to help build a Scottish development para-rowing programme which is now providing others with opportunities.

In saying so he notes that it is a sport that is about attitude more than the sort of ability that once saw him play hooker for Cumbernauld and West of Scotland as well as Scotland under-18s, while he believes it was his time playing rugby league with Easterhouse Panthers that got him in the necessary condition to become a Para.

"The thing with rowing is that no-one comes in with natural talent or natural ability," he explained. "You can have the physiological elements, you can be long and have the levers, but no-one just turns up and wins.

"In rowing it's all about technique, learning that technique, doing it over and over and over again and doing miles.

"I want to help develop the sport. I love seeing it grow. I'm very passionate for what this sport's given me. I've found my confidence again."

Which is the key to his story, because Meenagh has been determined to re-define himself since he lost his legs when, on duty with as a Paratrooper in Afghanistan, an IED blew his world apart in 2011.

In two minutes yesterday, then, he offered a profoundly inspirational message about the impact of that and why he is now able to see so much that is positive in an experience that cost him so much and cost a colleague and close friend his life.

"When you've finished Para training you walk into a room and you carry yourself differently. We call it infectious optimism and offensive eagerness," he explained.

"We have got this mindset that we're the best, we can do anything, we've never failed at any task. That's the way the Paras conduct themselves.

"You're in Afghanistan, you're at the peak of your fitness, you're out there, your're dominating the ground, you're engaging with the enemy, you're pushing them backwards, you're on top of the world. You're as able as it gets. In that (he clicks his fingers) a bomb goes off, a big bang happens and you wake up in hospital and you are probably as disabled as a person can be.

"My family had to shave me, they had to brush my teeth, I had bed baths for 11 weeks (during which) I was on my back and couldn't move. I was told when I could go to the toilet, I was told when I could shower, when I could shave. I couldn't do anything. You're so disabled and then you go to Headley Court (the Help for Heroes re-habilitation unit) and you're doing re-hab, but it's still this clinical environment where you're still dependent on other people.

"Coming back into sport has given me that pride in myself and my ability. I feel as able as the next man these days. The Paras talk about being men apart, every man an Emperor and I feel like a man apart again. I feel like I'm different and I like that and I feel that other people could benefit from it which is why I'm passionate about it."

It also explains how he can arouse passion in others even at British team level where he and fellow ex-Para Jordan Beecher are the two latest recruits.

"It's something that's been recognised on the Great Britain squad since we've joined," said Meenagh.

"The way we approach our training, the way we approach our day-in, day-out life, the way we conduct ourselves. We're disciplined. We've got strict routines, we carry ourselves with a certain amount of pride.

"For a rowing coach the biggest job has been trying to get us to harness our energy and hold us back a little bit. I've never been pulled up for not working hard enough, but I've been pulled up more times that I can remember for working too hard.

"That's the Paratrooper in you, but in the last 100 metres of a race that hard, fast, aggressive bayonet-style mindset is something that can be very, very valuable in a rower."

The Scottish Championships open with time trials at 8.30 am today at Strathclyde Park before racing gets properly underway at 9.20 am, finishing at 6.30 pm this evening, while the last of tomorrow's finals will take place at 7pm with places in the Scotland team at next month's Home International regatta as well as national titles being contested.