Sophie Pascoe

Fast Facts

Discipline: Individual Medley
Sport: Paralympic Swimming
Country: New Zealand
Birthplace: Christchurch
Date of Birth: 08/01/1993

Biography

Sophie Pascoe is undoubtedly one of the most successful swimmers New Zealand has ever produced.

At the age of 13, Sophie competed in her first major competition at the IPC World Championships in South Africa where she claimed a bronze medal in the 200m Individual Medley.

2 years later and at only 15 years of age, she competed at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games, claiming an astounding 3 gold medals in the 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley and 100m backstroke. She also boasted a World Record time for the 100m Backstroke along with a silver medal in the 100m butterfly. Not surprisingly, she was awarded the IPC’s best debut performance at Beijing’s Paralympic Games.

Since Beijing, Sophie has competed in the 2009 IPC World Short Course Championships in Brazil and the 2010 IPC World Swimming Championships in Eindhoven where she has claimed 5 gold medals, 3 silver medals, 3 bronze medals and 5 world records.

Determined to improve her performance even more, Sophie is currently training hard in Christchurch to qualify for the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

World Records

100m Fly 1:07.57 (L/C), 11 August 2011, Alberta, Canada
200m Individual Medley 2:29.35 (L/C) 13 August 2011, Alberta, Canada

Major Achievements

2010 IPC World Swimming Championships – Eindhoven
Gold – 100m Butterfly – World Record
Silver – 50m Freestyle
Silver – 100m Backstroke
Silver – 200m Individual Medley
Bronze – 100m Breaststroke

2009 IPC World Short Course Championships – Brazil
Gold – 100m Butterfly – World Record
Gold – 200m Individual Medley – World Record
Gold – 100m Individual Medley – World Record
Gold – 100m Backstroke – World Record
Bronze – 400m Freestyle
Bronze – 100m Breaststroke

2008 Paralympic Games – Beijing
Gold – 100m Breaststroke
Gold – 200m Individual Medley
Gold – 100m Backstroke
Silver – 100m Butterfly

2006 IPC Swimming World Championships – South Africa
Bronze – 200m Individual Medley