New Zealand Paralympian Dame Sophie Pascoe has won gold in the women's S9 100 metre freestyle.
Sophie Pascoe (left) after getting gold at the Women's 100m Freestyle S9 Swimming Final at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo: Photosport / Matthew Impey
Dame Sophie Pascoe won gold with a time of 1:02.95 with Australia's Emily Beecroft coming in second.
Dame Sophie said winning gold was overwhelming after a build-up that included a bout of Covid and losing her Nana.
"After the circumstances and adversity coming into this Games and to see a number one beside my name and especially that last 10 metres really hurt - but you know I know that my Nana was with me in those last 10 metres."
It was the 29-year-old's only event of the games - and she said she was undecided about her future in the pool.
"If this was my last one then I gave it everything I had, if it's not then, well then here comes Paris, you know a bit more training to go. But I'm just so proud of myself for getting here, overcoming everything," Dame Sophie said after the event.
Dame Sophie Pascoe is New Zealand's most decorated Paralympian. She has won a total of 20 medals across four Paralympian Games, including two golds, a silver and a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
She was made a dame last year for her services to swimming.
She made her international debut when she was 13 years old and when she was only 15 she won three golds and one silver at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Dame Sophie has also been named Disabled Sportsperson of the Year on six occasions at the Halberg Awards and was named Para Athlete of the Decade in 2020.
