Dame Sophie Pascoe announces retirement

New Zealand’s greatest Paralympian is hanging up her swimming cap and goggles. In front of friends and family in Christchurch, Dame Sophie Pascoe announced today that she won’t return to the pool - ending an unparalleled career. Entering her first Paralympics at Beijing in 2008 as a 15-year-old, Dame Sophie goes out having claimed 11 gold medals (19 medals in all) across four Paralympic Games.

Dame Sophie has also won multiple World Championships with a haul of 27 medals and five medals in three Commonwealth Games . “Representing New Zealand in the pool has been the greatest honour of my life,” she said..