August 30, 2024 • 17 mins
The Paralympics got underway this week in Paris, and for the first time in 16 years, Team New Zealand is missing a familiar face.
Dame Sophie Pascoe, New Zealand’s most decorated Paralympian, has decided to forgo this year’s Games in favour of staying home with her young baby.
Pascoe is a 4-time Paralympian, bringing home a total of 19 medals – 11 Gold, 7 Silver, and 1 Bronze.
However, while she may not be competing this year, that doesn’t mean she’s uninvolved, as Pascoe is presenting New Zealand’s TV coverage of the Games.
She told Newstalk ZB’s Jack Tame that as the Paralympics came closer she was feeling a bit nervous about presenting, as well as a bit of FOMO from not being over at the Games, however when they began she was content with her role.
“I'm right where I need to be with my family, with my baby and right here, presenting and helping out the Paralympic team, but still feeling like I'm part of the team, but just in such a different capacity.”
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks at b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Paralympics are officially underway in Paris, and for the
first time in sixteen years, Team New Zealand is missing
a very familiar face, our most decorated Paralympion ever, Sophie Pasco.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
So.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Sophie's a four time Paralympian and eleven time gold medalist,
seven time silver medalist and one time bronze ain't no thing.
She's also just become a mum. So this year, Sophie's
staying home from the Games and taking part in a
slightly different way, presenting TVNZ's coverage of the competition. And
she's with us this morning. Kilda, Good morning, good morning.
So good to see you in person.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yeah, it's been a long time, Jack, It.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Has been a long time. So I was thinking, I
think we first crossed paths when you were maybe fifteen
years old, correct, sculp, So another lifetime, which means that
the last time there was a Paralympic Games being contested
in which you weren't in the Paul, you were eleven.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
I was I just missed out actually as well?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Are you serious? Yes?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
I was like zero point zero something from qualifying eleven,
But it was I mean, it wasn't as if I
was trying to qualify for those particularly Wolf for Athens
at the time. It was just at Nationals and there
was obviously qualifying times on the sheet. Yeah, and I
just missed out, but it wasn't obviously on my rad a.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, yeah, I don't think it held you back in
the end, to be perfectly honest, So I'm sure everyone
I was asking you this, but what is it like,
how does it change your perspective on the Games to
not be competing for the first time since before you
were a teenager? Look?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
To be honest, it has been a little bit up
and down. Yeah, being the first time in sixteen years.
Every time I've been getting ready for a Paralympics, Obviously,
the Olympics is a couple of weeks prior to us,
and I've always been in a staging camp and that's
kind of been almost I like to call the Olympics
the warm up event for our vent, of course, but
(02:08):
it would get you really hyped up, you know. It
was so exciting watching our New Zealand Kiwi athletes perform
on the world stage and i'd always be overseas, but.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Here I am.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
I'm at home and I'm looking after a baby, and
I'm just not preparing to go to a Paralympic Games,
and so I mustn't it. It was really hard actually
watching the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
That's interesting.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
I felt I did feel the fomo and I also
felt like it wasn't really on. And I think that's
because it's the first time that I wasn't actually in
a structured routine of hey, I'm going to the Paralympics
in a few weeks time.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yes, so you felt that the Paralympics went on?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Yeah, yeah, no, boss, because it just it was kind
of this mentality of like, well, hang on, it's why
am I not? Why am I not overseas, you know,
with the rest of the Paralympic team getting ready and yeah.
So but then there was the emotions of actually watching
the Olympics as well, of oh, this isn't going to
(03:08):
be me in a few weeks time. So there was
a little bit of sadness, but there was so much
excitement because we had an incredible team and we did
so well. So I loved that side of it, and
I made sure that I was able to actually watch
a lot of our team because I was breastfeeding as well,
so I actually were up in the early hours of
the morning and I was actually able to watch. But
(03:30):
then now that we've actually come to the Paralympics, I
was really nervous. I'm each to my husband, I was like,
I'm actually really nervous about going into presenting and having
that real fomo feeling of not actually being over the
games of the team. But first day yesterday on.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Show and I just felt so content.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Oh that's great.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
It's like I'm right where I need to be with
my family, with my baby, and right here presenting and
helping out the Paralympic team, but still feeling like I'm
part of the team, but just in such.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
A different capacity. So yeah, yeah, I mean you're still engaged,
You're still part of it, just in a different context, right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Yeah, So I think all of that aside. Now I'm
just like, actually, you know what, I don't need to
be there. I watched some events last night, in particular
the swimming, and there was none of that fear of
missing out and that I should be there, and yeah,
it was perfect.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Can you enjoy it? That's what I wondered, because I
can totally appreciate the fomo, but I just wonder if
actually not having the pressure of your own performances and
the pressure of expectation and all of the concerns that
must go into competing is also a relief of sorts.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Yes, yes, there, I mean, there's obviously not that pressure
on you, right, I mean it's you carry the pressure
of everybody else to yes, but the biggest pressure is
your own. But now obviously that's just channeled into my
own pressure that I'm putting on myself in a studio,
which I do feel is a little bit daunting in
itself because it's obviously out of my comfort zone. You know,
I'm I'm not one to speak behind a camera every
(05:08):
single day. It comes, you know, in waves with obviously
being an athlete. But yeah, it's it is a little
bit of relief. Like I said, I just watched some
events last night and I'm just so excited for our team.
I still feel the nervousness, So I think that's great.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
On behalf of the team.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
On behalf of the team, and you know, I feel
what you know, the likes of Nicole was going through
and Voytek last night you get those feelings and I
don't think they'll ever go because you just know what
it's like to be standing either behind your block or
with a midfielder player about to compete. And I love
that feeling, Like that is the one feeling I do
(05:47):
miss because you know, it's like.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Then adrenaline rush.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
But I'm getting that when it's about to go, like
we're about to go live and TV now yea, So
in a way, I'm kind of.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Getting the best of both worlds. It's just so different.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
For what is with I think you're great on camera, Oh,
I think, but no, I can see how it's like
it's an intimidating environment, right, And there's a difference between
like doing interviews if you're competing as an athlete, and
then being in a TV studio kind of being in
command and having moving cameras and all of the distractions
and everything that comes with being in that environment. It's
(06:22):
it's an alien environment.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
It is unusual, and there's you know, so many moving
aspects and moving parts to making it come to life.
And I just I have so much more appreciation now
for presentors.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Oh yeah, yes, that's what I was thinking for No,
I really.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Do and you know, there's so much preparation that goes
in to making you know, the likes of this coverage happening,
and the fact that we're even getting this sort of coverage.
You know, it's amazing that TV and Z are actually
producing live TV coverage for our Paralympians. You know, we
deserve that and these athletes deserve it, and it's only
going to get better. And I just hope that I can,
you know, put my mark on for the team that
(07:02):
you know deserve that recognition.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
So do you reflect on, like on that note, do
you reflect on the place of the Paralympics in New
Zealand compared to your first games however many years ago?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Totally?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
That's I was talking to someone about this the other day. Actually,
it's just it's incredible how far Paralympics has already come.
And I look back on my history in particular, you know,
I started so young, you know, you know, slowly becoming
history myself. But you know, those first in particular, those
first two campaigns and the Beijing and London, and London
(07:37):
was really the catalyst of you know, becoming an inclusive
sport alongside the able body peers, know, London really made
sure that the Paralympics was going to be on the
same leave as the Olympics. However, you know, there wasn't
the media and the technology like there is today and
the social media aspect of it, and the sponsors getting
(07:58):
behind para athletes. It's constantly growing. So I have seen
that change and it's almost like I do feel like
those first couple of Paralympics, for myself, I have almost
been you know, they didn't get the recognition they deserve,
so it's almost like they have just been put aside.
And now you see that for these athletes like Tokyo
(08:21):
and now Paris, the social media is there. We never
had that in London and in Beijing.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Social media wasn't a thing.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Even little things. And this sounds so obvious, but like
being able to watch a particular event on demand, correct,
like not just being kind of a slave to whatever
is happening in the moment. It makes it sound so bad,
but you know what I mean, But like you can
you can go and say, actually, this is He's an
event that I might not have seen otherwise it was
in an inconvenient time or whatever, and I can go
(08:52):
and watch it. How great?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
So good and TVNZ plus have five channels to be
able to do that. And you know, now, yeah, it's
obviously the time zone doesn't really work in our favor here.
But the fact that you can wake up in the
morning and go, Okay, I'm going to go watch you
can make whatever sport of play, yeah, that you want to.
So it's so great. It's so great.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Mom life, Mom life. What has surprised you about mom life.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
That the amount of chat you have with people prior
to going into being a mum. You never really know
until you're in it, right, You can be told, given
all the advice, you can be told all these different things,
and until you're really in it, that's Yeah, that's when
(09:41):
you know. I'm a mum and I have so many
different moving parts as well.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Now I thought swimming was easy, did you?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Sorry? God, I just said swimming. I thought swimming was hard.
Swimming is so easy. Yeah, mom life is the hardest
job in the world. Yeah, hardest job in the world.
And I respect any parent out there and especially single parents.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
It is.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
It's challenging. It comes with its challenges.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
I mean, you've got a young person who is just
or a young baby who is so dependent on you,
and you want to give them everything you possibly can,
so you take you know that baby is taking two
loads of energy out, and then you're also obviously a
person as well. So I think the identity side of
it has been really challenging too. But I have really
(10:32):
found mum life so rewarding and just like I said,
I'm in the I'm the I'm in the best place
right now.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
It's so good to hear.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
I just love being a mum.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
The identity thing is interesting. And I saw you making
what I thought was just a really insightful comment about
how being a mom had kind of Kim was saying,
being a mom, being a mum had like changed your
relationship with your own body and the way you think
about your leg for example, and like we always think
about like how incredible women's bodies are, but that has
(11:03):
come with its own challenges.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
As well, totally.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
And I didn't know that until I got pregnant and
started to notice, you know, obviously, the weight change, and
then the next thing, you know, all that weight shifts
within your body and your gate starts to change, and
then next thing you know, I can't fit a leak.
So here we are having to get a new league mate,
and then it comes with the back problems because already
(11:26):
you know, being asymmetrical, it's just not you know, it
doesn't really work that well, you know, carrying a baby,
having a prosthetic leg, and then you know everything that
comes with being pregnant, and then the heat on top
of that. So there's the constant swelling that I had
within the prosthetic. It was constantly there reminding me that
(11:47):
I do have one leak. And then postpartum, you know,
started losing weight, so then still not fitting the league properly,
but then getting up in the how many times in
the night to feed baby, and you know, I don't
sleep with a leg on, and it's you know, having
to make sure my leg is on and it's on
properly because it's for the safety of my child. It's
(12:11):
all those things I'm actually having to think about first
before my baby. And you know everyone says the you know,
your first thought is your baby, but when you carry
a disability, you actually have to think about your disability first.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
It's for the safety of your child.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
It's just it's been a real mind shift because I've
grown up with one league for you know, twenty five
years and it's never been classes a disability in my
eyes because it's been automatic, routine, you know, auto pilt. However,
since being pregnant, it's now just the first thing in
my in my mind, you know, I live with pain
(12:49):
most days now, like I'm uncomfortable, but that's because your
body is changing so much. I'm still you know, going
through hormones and when you're breastfeeding, like all of this,
it's just it's a constant change. Your body just is
adapting to everything. But you also adapting to a prosthetic
league that was made you know how many months ago
(13:11):
or yeah, and you can't obviously get a new league
every single day.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah. Yeah, So I mean it's the classic like adding
someone else into the equation. Right, If it's just up
to Sophie Pasco, you just focus on yourself and swimming,
then that's one thing. But actually the moment you add
another human being into the equation.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Yeah, well absolutely.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
And then you know I mentioned about, you know the
look of having an athlete body prior to having a
baby as well, and you know, now I look in
the mirror and I don't have that athlete body. I'm
trying to obviously get that back, and it's you know,
it's not as fast as it was. You know, i'd
have a break, say a month break, you know, between
a Panacle event and the next season starting, and you
(13:53):
know it would come back just like that. Yeah, things
don't come back just like that anymore.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Well, for what it's worth, I think you're positively radiating
and you look incredible on TV. You guys are doing
such a good job. Are you back in the pool
at all? What's the That's what I thought. I was like,
how are you squeezing that into your life right now?
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Look, I mean, obviously it's on hold while I'm up here,
and I will be honest around that. But I did
mention that the other day that I just want to
enjoy the journey of getting back into it, and I
have been really enjoying it. Britt and I have actually
been swimming together in the pool, so he's been my
motivation actually to go to the pool and get back
in and I've been really loving it.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
It's been I guess it's my time I bring baby
with me.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
It's such a good point.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
And he just sits.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
In his prayer and watches and all he's looked after
by the staff on the side of the pool, Brute's wife,
and it's great, you know, like it's we've got such
a family. I mean, that's the beauty of Ecuagym. It's
a family there and family culture and also your team
that you've created over the past seventeen years. You know,
(15:02):
when I go to the gym as well, he comes
with me and he's just picked up by anybody and
just loves it and watches mom, you know, do her
gym session. So those times when I'm there, it's about me,
and it's I get to just fully immerse in me
and think about, actually, what am I getting out of
this session for me personally and physically, And yeah, I
(15:29):
mean you only get a few hours and a day
for yourself, and now it's I mean sometimes it's onny
an hour or if I'm lucky exactly, and so I
really like appreciate that. Yeah, And so I walk away
feeling so good. I'm like, oh my god, I love that.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Yeah I could do this, yeah, yeah, yeah, think of this.
Yeah it's precious.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
But yeah, there's like I could do this maybe you know,
the next games. And I think that's the beauty of
being able to watch the likes of the Olympics and
paralym pocks and seeing moms come back you know, after having.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Children, and we're seeing it more and more women.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Who have paved the way for you know, future mums
to be able to come back and go, Actually, you
can do this.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Yeah, I mean you don't have to decide that now, right.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
Exactly, And that's what I mean. I just want to
enjoy the journey of getting my body back to where
it was, loving my body again, because I'm not in
that place of loving it right now, and that's because
I've been so used to what you know, my body
has looked like for the past twenty odd years. And yeah,
it takes time, and I think you know, most women
who have had a baby, we'll understand that.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yeah, thank you so much for your time when you
were so busy at the moment, but also just like
for just being so open. You're amazing. Oh really, we
really love having you in here, So thank you. And
enjoy the games.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Thanks Jack.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Yes, and obviously every night from the seven thirty, you know,
free to hear TV and Z one and TV and
Z plus.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Ah, that's so good. The powers that be DV and
Z are going to be very pleased with both of us,
but honestly that was really quite profound and amazing, so
thank you very much, Sophie, we really appreciate it. That
is Sophie Pasco, Dame Sophie Pasco, Paralympic Legend TV presenting
Legend as well.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks at B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast
from News Talks at b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Paralympics are officially underway in Paris, and for the
first time in sixteen years, Team New Zealand is missing
a very familiar face, our most decorated Paralympion ever, Sophie Pasco.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
So.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Sophie's a four time Paralympian and eleven time gold medalist,
seven time silver medalist and one time bronze ain't no thing.
She's also just become a mum. So this year, Sophie's
staying home from the Games and taking part in a
slightly different way, presenting TVNZ's coverage of the competition. And
she's with us this morning. Kilda, Good morning, good morning.
So good to see you in person.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Yeah, it's been a long time, Jack, It.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Has been a long time. So I was thinking, I
think we first crossed paths when you were maybe fifteen
years old, correct, sculp, So another lifetime, which means that
the last time there was a Paralympic Games being contested
in which you weren't in the Paul, you were eleven.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
I was I just missed out actually as well?
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Are you serious? Yes?
Speaker 4 (01:13):
I was like zero point zero something from qualifying eleven,
But it was I mean, it wasn't as if I
was trying to qualify for those particularly Wolf for Athens
at the time. It was just at Nationals and there
was obviously qualifying times on the sheet. Yeah, and I
just missed out, but it wasn't obviously on my rad a.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah, yeah, I don't think it held you back in
the end, to be perfectly honest, So I'm sure everyone
I was asking you this, but what is it like,
how does it change your perspective on the Games to
not be competing for the first time since before you
were a teenager? Look?
Speaker 4 (01:48):
To be honest, it has been a little bit up
and down. Yeah, being the first time in sixteen years.
Every time I've been getting ready for a Paralympics, Obviously,
the Olympics is a couple of weeks prior to us,
and I've always been in a staging camp and that's
kind of been almost I like to call the Olympics
the warm up event for our vent, of course, but
(02:08):
it would get you really hyped up, you know. It
was so exciting watching our New Zealand Kiwi athletes perform
on the world stage and i'd always be overseas, but.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Here I am.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
I'm at home and I'm looking after a baby, and
I'm just not preparing to go to a Paralympic Games,
and so I mustn't it. It was really hard actually
watching the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
That's interesting.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
I felt I did feel the fomo and I also
felt like it wasn't really on. And I think that's
because it's the first time that I wasn't actually in
a structured routine of hey, I'm going to the Paralympics
in a few weeks time.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yes, so you felt that the Paralympics went on?
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Yeah, yeah, no, boss, because it just it was kind
of this mentality of like, well, hang on, it's why
am I not? Why am I not overseas, you know,
with the rest of the Paralympic team getting ready and yeah.
So but then there was the emotions of actually watching
the Olympics as well, of oh, this isn't going to
(03:08):
be me in a few weeks time. So there was
a little bit of sadness, but there was so much
excitement because we had an incredible team and we did
so well. So I loved that side of it, and
I made sure that I was able to actually watch
a lot of our team because I was breastfeeding as well,
so I actually were up in the early hours of
the morning and I was actually able to watch. But
(03:30):
then now that we've actually come to the Paralympics, I
was really nervous. I'm each to my husband, I was like,
I'm actually really nervous about going into presenting and having
that real fomo feeling of not actually being over the
games of the team. But first day yesterday on.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Show and I just felt so content.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Oh that's great.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
It's like I'm right where I need to be with
my family, with my baby, and right here presenting and
helping out the Paralympic team, but still feeling like I'm
part of the team, but just in such.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
A different capacity. So yeah, yeah, I mean you're still engaged,
You're still part of it, just in a different context, right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
Yeah, So I think all of that aside. Now I'm
just like, actually, you know what, I don't need to
be there. I watched some events last night, in particular
the swimming, and there was none of that fear of
missing out and that I should be there, and yeah,
it was perfect.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Can you enjoy it? That's what I wondered, because I
can totally appreciate the fomo, but I just wonder if
actually not having the pressure of your own performances and
the pressure of expectation and all of the concerns that
must go into competing is also a relief of sorts.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Yes, yes, there, I mean, there's obviously not that pressure
on you, right, I mean it's you carry the pressure
of everybody else to yes, but the biggest pressure is
your own. But now obviously that's just channeled into my
own pressure that I'm putting on myself in a studio,
which I do feel is a little bit daunting in
itself because it's obviously out of my comfort zone. You know,
I'm I'm not one to speak behind a camera every
(05:08):
single day. It comes, you know, in waves with obviously
being an athlete. But yeah, it's it is a little
bit of relief. Like I said, I just watched some
events last night and I'm just so excited for our team.
I still feel the nervousness, So I think that's great.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
On behalf of the team.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
On behalf of the team, and you know, I feel
what you know, the likes of Nicole was going through
and Voytek last night you get those feelings and I
don't think they'll ever go because you just know what
it's like to be standing either behind your block or
with a midfielder player about to compete. And I love
that feeling, Like that is the one feeling I do
(05:47):
miss because you know, it's like.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Then adrenaline rush.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
But I'm getting that when it's about to go, like
we're about to go live and TV now yea, So
in a way, I'm kind of.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Getting the best of both worlds. It's just so different.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
For what is with I think you're great on camera, Oh,
I think, but no, I can see how it's like
it's an intimidating environment, right, And there's a difference between
like doing interviews if you're competing as an athlete, and
then being in a TV studio kind of being in
command and having moving cameras and all of the distractions
and everything that comes with being in that environment. It's
(06:22):
it's an alien environment.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
It is unusual, and there's you know, so many moving
aspects and moving parts to making it come to life.
And I just I have so much more appreciation now
for presentors.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Oh yeah, yes, that's what I was thinking for No,
I really.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
Do and you know, there's so much preparation that goes
in to making you know, the likes of this coverage happening,
and the fact that we're even getting this sort of coverage.
You know, it's amazing that TV and Z are actually
producing live TV coverage for our Paralympians. You know, we
deserve that and these athletes deserve it, and it's only
going to get better. And I just hope that I can,
you know, put my mark on for the team that
(07:02):
you know deserve that recognition.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
So do you reflect on, like on that note, do
you reflect on the place of the Paralympics in New
Zealand compared to your first games however many years ago?
Speaker 3 (07:14):
Totally?
Speaker 4 (07:15):
That's I was talking to someone about this the other day. Actually,
it's just it's incredible how far Paralympics has already come.
And I look back on my history in particular, you know,
I started so young, you know, you know, slowly becoming
history myself. But you know, those first in particular, those
first two campaigns and the Beijing and London, and London
(07:37):
was really the catalyst of you know, becoming an inclusive
sport alongside the able body peers, know, London really made
sure that the Paralympics was going to be on the
same leave as the Olympics. However, you know, there wasn't
the media and the technology like there is today and
the social media aspect of it, and the sponsors getting
(07:58):
behind para athletes. It's constantly growing. So I have seen
that change and it's almost like I do feel like
those first couple of Paralympics, for myself, I have almost
been you know, they didn't get the recognition they deserve,
so it's almost like they have just been put aside.
And now you see that for these athletes like Tokyo
(08:21):
and now Paris, the social media is there. We never
had that in London and in Beijing.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Social media wasn't a thing.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Even little things. And this sounds so obvious, but like
being able to watch a particular event on demand, correct,
like not just being kind of a slave to whatever
is happening in the moment. It makes it sound so bad,
but you know what I mean, But like you can
you can go and say, actually, this is He's an
event that I might not have seen otherwise it was
in an inconvenient time or whatever, and I can go
(08:52):
and watch it. How great?
Speaker 4 (08:54):
So good and TVNZ plus have five channels to be
able to do that. And you know, now, yeah, it's
obviously the time zone doesn't really work in our favor here.
But the fact that you can wake up in the
morning and go, Okay, I'm going to go watch you
can make whatever sport of play, yeah, that you want to.
So it's so great. It's so great.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Mom life, Mom life. What has surprised you about mom life.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
That the amount of chat you have with people prior
to going into being a mum. You never really know
until you're in it, right, You can be told, given
all the advice, you can be told all these different things,
and until you're really in it, that's Yeah, that's when
(09:41):
you know. I'm a mum and I have so many
different moving parts as well.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Now I thought swimming was easy, did you?
Speaker 4 (09:51):
Sorry? God, I just said swimming. I thought swimming was hard.
Swimming is so easy. Yeah, mom life is the hardest
job in the world. Yeah, hardest job in the world.
And I respect any parent out there and especially single parents.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
It is.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
It's challenging. It comes with its challenges.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
I mean, you've got a young person who is just
or a young baby who is so dependent on you,
and you want to give them everything you possibly can,
so you take you know that baby is taking two
loads of energy out, and then you're also obviously a
person as well. So I think the identity side of
it has been really challenging too. But I have really
(10:32):
found mum life so rewarding and just like I said,
I'm in the I'm the I'm in the best place
right now.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
It's so good to hear.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
I just love being a mum.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
The identity thing is interesting. And I saw you making
what I thought was just a really insightful comment about
how being a mom had kind of Kim was saying,
being a mom, being a mum had like changed your
relationship with your own body and the way you think
about your leg for example, and like we always think
about like how incredible women's bodies are, but that has
(11:03):
come with its own challenges.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
As well, totally.
Speaker 4 (11:06):
And I didn't know that until I got pregnant and
started to notice, you know, obviously, the weight change, and
then the next thing, you know, all that weight shifts
within your body and your gate starts to change, and
then next thing you know, I can't fit a leak.
So here we are having to get a new league mate,
and then it comes with the back problems because already
(11:26):
you know, being asymmetrical, it's just not you know, it
doesn't really work that well, you know, carrying a baby,
having a prosthetic leg, and then you know everything that
comes with being pregnant, and then the heat on top
of that. So there's the constant swelling that I had
within the prosthetic. It was constantly there reminding me that
(11:47):
I do have one leak. And then postpartum, you know,
started losing weight, so then still not fitting the league properly,
but then getting up in the how many times in
the night to feed baby, and you know, I don't
sleep with a leg on, and it's you know, having
to make sure my leg is on and it's on
properly because it's for the safety of my child. It's
(12:11):
all those things I'm actually having to think about first
before my baby. And you know everyone says the you know,
your first thought is your baby, but when you carry
a disability, you actually have to think about your disability first.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
It's for the safety of your child.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
It's just it's been a real mind shift because I've
grown up with one league for you know, twenty five
years and it's never been classes a disability in my
eyes because it's been automatic, routine, you know, auto pilt. However,
since being pregnant, it's now just the first thing in
my in my mind, you know, I live with pain
(12:49):
most days now, like I'm uncomfortable, but that's because your
body is changing so much. I'm still you know, going
through hormones and when you're breastfeeding, like all of this,
it's just it's a constant change. Your body just is
adapting to everything. But you also adapting to a prosthetic
league that was made you know how many months ago
(13:11):
or yeah, and you can't obviously get a new league
every single day.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yeah. Yeah, So I mean it's the classic like adding
someone else into the equation. Right, If it's just up
to Sophie Pasco, you just focus on yourself and swimming,
then that's one thing. But actually the moment you add
another human being into the equation.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Yeah, well absolutely.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
And then you know I mentioned about, you know the
look of having an athlete body prior to having a
baby as well, and you know, now I look in
the mirror and I don't have that athlete body. I'm
trying to obviously get that back, and it's you know,
it's not as fast as it was. You know, i'd
have a break, say a month break, you know, between
a Panacle event and the next season starting, and you
(13:53):
know it would come back just like that. Yeah, things
don't come back just like that anymore.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Well, for what it's worth, I think you're positively radiating
and you look incredible on TV. You guys are doing
such a good job. Are you back in the pool
at all? What's the That's what I thought. I was like,
how are you squeezing that into your life right now?
Speaker 4 (14:12):
Look, I mean, obviously it's on hold while I'm up here,
and I will be honest around that. But I did
mention that the other day that I just want to
enjoy the journey of getting back into it, and I
have been really enjoying it. Britt and I have actually
been swimming together in the pool, so he's been my
motivation actually to go to the pool and get back
in and I've been really loving it.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
It's been I guess it's my time I bring baby
with me.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
It's such a good point.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
And he just sits.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
In his prayer and watches and all he's looked after
by the staff on the side of the pool, Brute's wife,
and it's great, you know, like it's we've got such
a family. I mean, that's the beauty of Ecuagym. It's
a family there and family culture and also your team
that you've created over the past seventeen years. You know,
(15:02):
when I go to the gym as well, he comes
with me and he's just picked up by anybody and
just loves it and watches mom, you know, do her
gym session. So those times when I'm there, it's about me,
and it's I get to just fully immerse in me
and think about, actually, what am I getting out of
this session for me personally and physically, And yeah, I
(15:29):
mean you only get a few hours and a day
for yourself, and now it's I mean sometimes it's onny
an hour or if I'm lucky exactly, and so I
really like appreciate that. Yeah, And so I walk away
feeling so good. I'm like, oh my god, I love that.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Yeah I could do this, yeah, yeah, yeah, think of this.
Yeah it's precious.
Speaker 4 (15:48):
But yeah, there's like I could do this maybe you know,
the next games. And I think that's the beauty of
being able to watch the likes of the Olympics and
paralym pocks and seeing moms come back you know, after having.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Children, and we're seeing it more and more women.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Who have paved the way for you know, future mums
to be able to come back and go, Actually, you
can do this.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
Yeah, I mean you don't have to decide that now, right.
Speaker 4 (16:11):
Exactly, And that's what I mean. I just want to
enjoy the journey of getting my body back to where
it was, loving my body again, because I'm not in
that place of loving it right now, and that's because
I've been so used to what you know, my body
has looked like for the past twenty odd years. And yeah,
it takes time, and I think you know, most women
who have had a baby, we'll understand that.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yeah, thank you so much for your time when you
were so busy at the moment, but also just like
for just being so open. You're amazing. Oh really, we
really love having you in here, So thank you. And
enjoy the games.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Thanks Jack.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Yes, and obviously every night from the seven thirty, you know,
free to hear TV and Z one and TV and
Z plus.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Ah, that's so good. The powers that be DV and
Z are going to be very pleased with both of us,
but honestly that was really quite profound and amazing, so
thank you very much, Sophie, we really appreciate it. That
is Sophie Pasco, Dame Sophie Pasco, Paralympic Legend TV presenting
Legend as well.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks at B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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