Dame Sophie Pascoe: Kiwi para-swimmer opens up about retirement from the sport

Dame Sophie Pascoe believes the time is right to hang up her swimming cap and goggles.

The 32-year-old is retiring as New Zealand's greatest-ever Paralympian, having won 11 gold medals since her first Games in Beijing in 2008.

She says she had to take a step back from the sport after welcoming her first son - and she's keen to carry on with her next venture.

"It just really felt comfortable for me knowing that I was still there with my son and my family and we were still a family unit - so that definitely helped, I definitely had time over this break to really make a decision around this next four-year cycle." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now, New Zealand's most decorated Paralympian, Dames Sophie Pasco
is calling time on her career in the pool.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
And it's going to be a brilliant gold medal for
New Zealand's fifteen year old golden j Pasco.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
It's going to hold on. She glides for that joke.
Sophie Pasco becomes a new Paralympic champion.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
It's a race to the hall at Pasco does it
a second gold medal at four of it.

Speaker 1 (00:24):
After winning her first gold medal in the Beijing Olympics
in two thousand and eight, she's claimed nineteen medals across
four Paralympics. Sophie Pasco, Hello, welcome to the show, and
congratulations on such a wonderful career.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Oh thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
You why are you stopping?

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Well, you know, I'm it's it's the right time for me.
It's been probably a natural evolution to make this decision. I,
you know, definitely intended on going to the twenty three
World Championships and then the twenty four Paralympic Games. I
felt pregnant with my son and you know, became quite six,

(01:05):
so I couldn't attend the World Championships, and then with postpartum,
I made the decision not to go to Paris, and
I got a wonderful opportunity last year to share alongside
Scotty Stevenson the broadcast of the Paralympic Games with TVNS DEAD,

(01:26):
and I think that really helped my decision in making
what was the next venture for me. I felt really
content sitting behind that desk and sharing what great athletes
we have and still enhancing the Parallem movement. I felt
like I was still part of the team, but in
a different capacity, and it just really felt comfortable for

(01:51):
me knowing that I was still there with my son
and my family and we were still a family unit.
So that definitely helped. And I definitely had some I'm
this break to really, you know, make the decision around
this next four year cycle, and it just felt right
for me to hang the togs up and the goggles
and cap and go, you know what. I'm ready to

(02:15):
be full time and give one hundred percent to motherhood
right now, and my priorities have shifted, you know. Absolutely,
of course I could go to another Paralympic Games. However,
for me right now, that's just not where my heart
feels it needs to be.

Speaker 1 (02:32):
Good on you your favorite Olympic Games? You know, your
first was Beijing two thousand and eight, you were just fifteen.
What was your favorite?

Speaker 2 (02:40):
Oh gosh, they all hold their own favorite parts. But
I think the biggest reward that's come out of swimming
for me has been how a sport can change people's lives.
And you know, I was able to do that. And
at my first Paralympic Games, I came away with the
gold medal and a world record of the four medals

(03:01):
that I that I won over there. And when you're
sitting up on the podium and you are wearing that
silver fern and you hear the national anthem, it's just
a moment of pride and honor. And then I got
to share that moment with my family who were up
in the stands watching me. And you know, my father
was there the day of the accident, and you know

(03:23):
there was an image that was created and instilled in
his head and of a young disabled girl, and in
that moment when national anthem was playing, I got to
change that into a world champion. And it's you know,
the power of sport. The fact that I've been able
to change that image and continue to do that for
others out there has just been one of the proudest

(03:45):
moments of my career.

Speaker 1 (03:47):
You mentioned the accident. Given how much you have achieved
in sport, how do you feel about that accident?

Speaker 2 (03:54):
Now, look my accident, it's certainly the way that I
personally see that it was the best thing that ever
happened to me. It's opened up a huge doors, a
lot of doors of opportunity. You know, it's made me
into the person that I am today, to be able
to inspire and enhance parallel movement, to make people realize

(04:17):
that your disability doesn't define who you are. And yeah,
I walk proud that I, you know, am different to
the majority out there, but everybody is different and we
all have a place and all have a voice. And
the fact that I get to change people's lives through

(04:38):
a passion that I had for over twenty years and
you know, share that alongside other people who are passionate
about changing people's perceptions of one that lives with a
disability is Yeah, it's it's very humbling and very rewarding
that I get to be apart a part of that group.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
Sophie, congratulations on all your success and good luck with
being a mother. I know that you're enjoying it so far,
but having more time with your wei boys is a
wonderful thing, so good on you. It is seventeen minutes
away from six on News Talks. He'll be very quickly.
Just so you know. Eleven gold medals at the Paralympics,
seven silver, won bronze, five gold medals at their comm Games.

(05:21):
New Zealand's most decorated Paralympion. That was Dame Sophie Pasco.
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