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Sophie Pascoe is New Zealand’s most successful Paralympics, winning 19 medals, including 11 golds.
Dame Sophie Pascoe’s Commonwealth Games preparations have been made after she contracted Covid-19 and had to miss her inauguration ceremony.
The Para swimming greatness – who has won 11 Paralympic gold medals and 19 in total during a glittering career – was set to officially receive her Damehood in a ceremony at Christchurch City Hall on Thursday.
However, the 29-year-old was unable to attend after contracting Covid-19 and took to social media to express her regrets.
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“There’s never a perfect time and it’s definitely not for me right now,” she wrote. “Down with Covid.
“I am disappointed to miss the inauguration ceremony tomorrow, but I look forward to another ceremony at a later date.
“I am resting at home for now before traveling to Birmingham at the end of this month to compete in the Commonwealth Games.”
Pascoe became the youngest ever Lady in the New Year’s Honors earlier this year in recognition of her record-breaking performance in the pool.
Pascoe said at the time that she was “very proud”, honored and humbled to become a Lady, initially withholding the news of her father Garry, mother Jo and sister Rebecca in Whakatāne to surprise them.
“I wanted to keep it a secret from them because I thought it would be a nice surprise for them,” said Pascoe, who is “very proud”, honored and humbled to become a Dame.
“It’s kind of a tradition for Dad to walk to the dairy in Golden Bay, pick up the newspaper in the morning, and update us on the news.
“So I thought it would be a nice surprise for them to be able to read that over breakfast in the bay, and for me to be able to pour a champagne at breakfast.”
Pascoe will compete in the 100m freestyle event at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, having competed in five events at the Tokyo Paralympic Games last year.
She won four gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and four years later on the Gold Coast.