Proud of his achievement, the 41-year-old Sydney father of three could also see a silver lining to being beaten for gold for a third consecutive Games, joking that it would save any family squabbles.

"I guess my kids won't be arguing who gets what medal," Horrie said.

"I've got the three kids and now there's a silver each.

"This one means a little bit more to me because it's my son's (Luigi) ninth birthday today.

"He was born when I was in London at my first Paralympics so this one certainly means a lot.

"I hope this medal will show him what the sacrifice is all for, and hopefully shows the kids never to give up and to believe in yourself."

Roman Polianskyi of the Ukraine successfully defended his PR1 men's single sculls title, again denying Horrie.

Polianskyi led from the start on the two kilometre Sea Forest Waterway course to cross 12.04 seconds clear of Horrie, with Brazilian Rene Campos Pereira taking bronze.

Horrie looked like he would finish in third before lifting his rating in the last quarter of the race to move into the silver medal position.

"I'm honoured to still be on the podium next to Roman," Horrie told Channel Seven.

"It was an unbelievable race, he rowed so much better than me today and took the gold but I've just got to hold my head high and go home with silver."

Horrie said he was likely to go for a fourth medal in Paris in 2023.

Australia's PR3 mixed coxed four finished fourth in their final.

The crew of Alex Viney, Nikki Ayers, Thomas Birthwhistle, James Talbot and cox Renae Domaschenz set a Paralympic best time in the repechage but were unable to match the pace of gold medallists Great Britain.

Australian duo Simon Albury and Kathryn Ross missed a spot in the PR2 mixed double scull medal race but were runaway winners in the B final on Sunday morning.

Australian Associated Press