Greetings, swimming enthusiasts!
Swimming is already a hard sport, so imagine how much harder it would be as a below the leg amputee. Sophie Pascoe, a native New Zealander, has not let a harrowing childhood lawnmower accident stop her from making a mark in the world of swimming. As New Zealand’s Most Decorated Paralympian, Pascoe has become a national treasure.
Pascoe first proved her talent in the water at the Independence Games, an annual sporting event held in New Zealand for disabled people aged 8-17. Paralympians Roly Crichton and Graham Condon were so impressed by Pascoe’s performance that they invited her to join the QEII Swim Club, a well-known team based in Christchurch. Under the coaching of Crichton, Pascoe quickly made strides in the sport, debuting on the international stage at the age of 13 at the IPC Swimming World Championships in South Africa. The IPC Swimming World Championships, now known as the World Para Swimming Championships, are the international swimming championships for disabled athletes. From there, Pascoe powered on to the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, where she earned a gold medal in the 100m Breaststroke, 200m Individual Medley, and 100m backstroke, and a silver medal in the 100m Butterfly. Since then, Pascoe as remained in the spotlight in international competitions each year. Recently, at this year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Pascoe was chosen as New Zealand’s flag bearer.
Pascoe’s training regimen includes ten swimming sessions and four gym sessions each week. However, throughout her career, she has had to interrupt her training to treat various infections and undergo surgery. She recently explained to Newsroom, “it’s all part of living with a disability. People might forget we have to go through the regular routines of surgery. It’s that extra challenge we take on board as a Paralympian.” Pascoe is currently facing that challenge as she recovers from the removal of a bone from her leg. She had the surgery over the summer and is now easing back into training while also making time for herself. Pascoe has her eyes on the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. I’m sure we’ll all be watching to see how she progresses over the next year and a half! In the meantime, you can read her 2013 biography “Stroke of Fate” to learn more about Pascoe.
That’s all for now, swimming enthusiasts! Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
References
- http://www.olympic.org.nz/athletes/sophie-pascoe/
- http://www.paralympics.org.nz/Para-Athletes/Athlete-Profiles/Sophie-Pascoe
- http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0702/S00321/15-years-of-independence-games.htm
- http://qeiiswimclub.org.nz
- https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/354013/tears-as-sophie-pascoe-named-commonwealth-games-flag-bearer
- https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/107047066/reconstructing-sophie-pascoe-the-road-to-tokyo-2020
Photos
- https://twitter.com/sophpascoe
- https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/sophie-pascoe-proudly-representing-all-athletes-as-new-zealand-commonwealth-games-flag-bearer/
- http://www.gettyimages.ru/image/gold-coast-australia-sophie-pascoe-flag/941773790/2
- https://www.bookdepository.com/Sophie-Pascoe-Stroke-Fate-Tony-Smith/9781869713102
