Sophie Pascoe has won New Zealand’s first medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
The swimming sensation won a silver medal in the 100 metre breaststroke SB8 classification.
Ireland’s Ellen Keane won the gold medal. In a thrilling race she managed to out-touch Pascoe by just .39 seconds. Adelina Razetdinova, from the Russian Paralympic Committee, finished 3rd with the bronze medal.
After the race Pascoe said she’s thrilled to have won what she describes as an unexpected silver medal. Pascoe only entered this race to warm up a little before her favoured events that are coming up in three days time.
She will compete in the 100m backstroke on Monday, 100m freestyle on Tuesday, 200m individual medley on Wednesday and finally the 100m butterfly on Thursday.
Pascoe came into the competition ranked third in the world.
Pascoe is New Zealand’s most decorated Paralympian and her silver medal was her 16th Paralympic medal – her seventh silver.