Kiwi Paralympian Sophie Pascoe has opened up about how close she came to calling it quits ahead of the upcoming Tokyo Games.
Pascoe, New Zealand's most decorated Paralympian, has been named as one of five swimmers to represent New Zealand at Tokyo in what will be her fourth campaign.
Butalthough staying tight-lipped on whether it'll be her last, Pascoe revealed she spent last year's Covid-19 level 4 lockdown contemplating what her future held when the Games were postponed for 12 months.
Paralympian Sophie Pascoe. Photo / Dean Purcell
"I'm not going to lie as an athlete and sit here and say I got straight back into [swimming]," Pascoe said from the team's National Training Centre. "The goalposts shifted so it was very much re-evaluating... I did go through a grieving process of the postponement of the Games.
"[But] now I have a better understanding of life outside of swimming and the transition because I do need to think about that going into my fourth Games, and I'm not saying it's my last, but we have definitely changed things up and you have to."
Significantly switching up her training, Pascoe admitted she spends far less time in the pool nowadays.
But that doesn't mean her commitment to winning another gold medal has wavered.
"I am going in as a different athlete, I'm not afraid to share that. I have a nice mental balance and physical balance and I do reckon that'll pay off in Tokyo," she said.
"Yes, I'm not training as much as I used to because we are definitely focussing on quality over quantity and it's proving to still show success in the pool with qualifying this week at nationals and being named on the team.
"I'm not going to say what the ultimate goal is but you'll definitely see one gold medal at least."
Naming of this years Paralympic swimming team (L-R) Cameron Leslie, Sophie Pascoe, Nikita Howarth, Tupou Neiufi and Jesse Reynolds. Photo / Dean Purcell
Meanwhile, Cameron Leslie, Jesse Reynolds, Nikita Howarth and Tupou Neiufi were also selected by Paralympics New Zealand to represent New Zealand at the Games.
Between them, the five Para swimmers hold 20 Paralympic medals and 14 long course world records and are expected to play a major role in New Zealand's campaign.
Pascoe said training was "back at planning level again" as they re-evaluate things going forward. She and the team are set to travel around the country for various training opportunities leading into the Games.
