1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from Newstalks, edb. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:16,547 Speaker 2: Our greatest Olympian is bringing the curtain down on her 4 00:00:16,707 --> 00:00:18,147 Speaker 2: incredible career. 5 00:00:17,907 --> 00:00:21,147 Speaker 3: Sophie Pasco. It is all about the kywe as she 6 00:00:21,187 --> 00:00:24,627 Speaker 3: brings it home. Ten meters to go, Sophie Pasco, good 7 00:00:24,707 --> 00:00:27,947 Speaker 3: stroke rating, dragging it out. She's only got half of this. 8 00:00:28,067 --> 00:00:29,507 Speaker 4: A wee bit of a response. 9 00:00:29,107 --> 00:00:32,067 Speaker 3: Coming from one of the Australians, but Pasco touches first, 10 00:00:32,267 --> 00:00:35,987 Speaker 3: No problem, Sophie Pasco one eighteen point oh nine. It 11 00:00:36,067 --> 00:00:39,667 Speaker 3: is gold for New Zealand, a second gold in Nepal. 12 00:00:40,067 --> 00:00:44,067 Speaker 3: But Sophie Pasco from christ Church delight for her A 13 00:00:44,347 --> 00:00:45,267 Speaker 3: massive smile. 14 00:00:45,547 --> 00:00:48,427 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've got to know that massive smile quite a lot. 15 00:00:48,467 --> 00:00:53,307 Speaker 2: Didn't wear nineteen Paralympic medals across four Paralympic Games. Eleven 16 00:00:53,387 --> 00:00:57,787 Speaker 2: of those nineteen medals were gold, including four in succession 17 00:00:58,347 --> 00:01:03,667 Speaker 2: in her her specialty, two hundred individual medley, twenty seven 18 00:01:04,147 --> 00:01:08,387 Speaker 2: World Championship medals, five I Commonwealth Games gold medals, over 19 00:01:08,467 --> 00:01:11,907 Speaker 2: a dozen world records, and in twenty twenty two she 20 00:01:12,027 --> 00:01:15,267 Speaker 2: was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order 21 00:01:15,307 --> 00:01:18,627 Speaker 2: of merit. Who else but Dame Sophie Pasco who joins 22 00:01:18,707 --> 00:01:20,787 Speaker 2: us now, Dame Sophie, thanks for taking the time for 23 00:01:20,827 --> 00:01:23,387 Speaker 2: a chant. How did you come to this decision? 24 00:01:24,347 --> 00:01:27,467 Speaker 4: Look, I think it was a pretty natural evolution for me. 25 00:01:28,067 --> 00:01:31,147 Speaker 4: You know, the day of retirement is always obviously going 26 00:01:31,187 --> 00:01:35,067 Speaker 4: to be upon an athlete at some stage, and yeah, 27 00:01:35,187 --> 00:01:37,187 Speaker 4: you know has taken some serious thought. You know, I 28 00:01:37,187 --> 00:01:41,387 Speaker 4: haven't made this decision lately. I still obviously intended to 29 00:01:41,547 --> 00:01:45,387 Speaker 4: go to World Championships in twenty twenty three and then 30 00:01:45,867 --> 00:01:49,027 Speaker 4: the Paris Paralymic Games in twenty four. You know, I 31 00:01:49,027 --> 00:01:53,787 Speaker 4: felt pregnant with my son, and it just became a 32 00:01:53,867 --> 00:01:59,627 Speaker 4: natural evolution that actually, you know, I couldn't go to 33 00:01:59,667 --> 00:02:02,907 Speaker 4: Paris and I couldn't go to the World Championships due 34 00:02:02,947 --> 00:02:08,547 Speaker 4: to my sickness. But then also postpart in and last year, 35 00:02:08,587 --> 00:02:11,667 Speaker 4: when I had the opportunity to present the Paralympic Games 36 00:02:11,667 --> 00:02:17,027 Speaker 4: alongside Scotti Stevenson with TV and Dev's it actually sort 37 00:02:17,027 --> 00:02:19,867 Speaker 4: of helped my decision. I felt really content where I was. 38 00:02:20,987 --> 00:02:22,747 Speaker 4: I felt like I was still part of the team 39 00:02:22,787 --> 00:02:25,667 Speaker 4: but in a different capacity. But also I was right 40 00:02:25,667 --> 00:02:28,947 Speaker 4: where I needed to be, which was to be a 41 00:02:28,987 --> 00:02:31,107 Speaker 4: mother to my son and to be a wife and 42 00:02:31,387 --> 00:02:33,947 Speaker 4: just be a family unit. But I also have the 43 00:02:34,747 --> 00:02:38,107 Speaker 4: opportunity to still have a voice for the Paralympic movement 44 00:02:38,267 --> 00:02:41,027 Speaker 4: and to showcase our incredible athletes. So that sort of 45 00:02:41,187 --> 00:02:45,467 Speaker 4: definitely helped cement my decision. But obviously I've taken this 46 00:02:45,547 --> 00:02:50,507 Speaker 4: time host the twenty twenty four Paralilamic Games to really 47 00:02:50,587 --> 00:02:53,147 Speaker 4: make a decision around this next four year cycle, because 48 00:02:53,267 --> 00:02:58,067 Speaker 4: absolutely I could go through LA, but right now my 49 00:02:59,307 --> 00:03:03,267 Speaker 4: focus has shifted into wanting to be a mother and 50 00:03:03,307 --> 00:03:07,427 Speaker 4: give one hundred percent to that and really focus on 51 00:03:07,787 --> 00:03:10,067 Speaker 4: you know, bringing my son up and being a family unit. 52 00:03:10,467 --> 00:03:12,787 Speaker 2: Well, it sounds like a pretty good rationale to me. 53 00:03:13,267 --> 00:03:17,667 Speaker 2: So having made the decision, what were your overriding emotions? 54 00:03:18,587 --> 00:03:22,347 Speaker 4: Look, there's definitely you know, I don't say my retirement 55 00:03:22,467 --> 00:03:25,547 Speaker 4: with sadness. You know, I say it with celebration that 56 00:03:25,907 --> 00:03:30,107 Speaker 4: it's been an incredible twenty year plus journey. You know, 57 00:03:30,147 --> 00:03:34,267 Speaker 4: the biggest the biggest part of it being the people 58 00:03:34,307 --> 00:03:36,987 Speaker 4: that have been involved in this journey and the friendships 59 00:03:37,027 --> 00:03:41,547 Speaker 4: and the family that I've created. It's you know, I 60 00:03:41,547 --> 00:03:44,307 Speaker 4: couldn't have done this on my own and the fact 61 00:03:44,307 --> 00:03:46,787 Speaker 4: that I've had a huge support network that's been able 62 00:03:46,827 --> 00:03:50,747 Speaker 4: to be standing by my side through every step of 63 00:03:50,787 --> 00:03:55,467 Speaker 4: the journey. You know, I feel very fortunate. I feel 64 00:03:55,627 --> 00:03:59,587 Speaker 4: like I've left the sport proud and proud knowing that 65 00:03:59,987 --> 00:04:02,787 Speaker 4: you know, I've made an impact not just within the 66 00:04:02,827 --> 00:04:07,067 Speaker 4: pool but also out of the pool, the fact that 67 00:04:07,107 --> 00:04:11,107 Speaker 4: sport can change people's lives and I've just been a 68 00:04:11,147 --> 00:04:12,187 Speaker 4: small contribution to that. 69 00:04:13,067 --> 00:04:15,707 Speaker 2: What are your fondest swimming memories? 70 00:04:17,827 --> 00:04:21,627 Speaker 4: Look, the biggest, one of the biggest memories and probably 71 00:04:21,667 --> 00:04:23,707 Speaker 4: one of my biggest achievements that I vested the pool 72 00:04:23,707 --> 00:04:26,467 Speaker 4: workers in two thousand and eight. You know, my first 73 00:04:26,507 --> 00:04:31,467 Speaker 4: Paralympic Games, I was fifteen years of age. I won, 74 00:04:31,987 --> 00:04:35,387 Speaker 4: when I touched the wall and won and also had 75 00:04:35,387 --> 00:04:38,227 Speaker 4: a world recognise to it. Standing up on the podium 76 00:04:38,347 --> 00:04:40,787 Speaker 4: was the first time I heard the national anthems play 77 00:04:40,827 --> 00:04:46,627 Speaker 4: for me. And you know, at the moment of pride, 78 00:04:46,907 --> 00:04:49,427 Speaker 4: it's you know, I had a dream of it when 79 00:04:49,467 --> 00:04:52,347 Speaker 4: I was a young child, wanting to represent New Zealand 80 00:04:52,387 --> 00:04:55,347 Speaker 4: were the Silver Fern, and that moment came true. But 81 00:04:55,387 --> 00:04:58,067 Speaker 4: then also up in the stands with my family and 82 00:04:59,107 --> 00:05:01,867 Speaker 4: you know, a father who doesn't shed a lot of 83 00:05:01,907 --> 00:05:05,267 Speaker 4: emotion who was part of the accident on the day, 84 00:05:06,067 --> 00:05:08,067 Speaker 4: which you know, created an image for him of a 85 00:05:08,107 --> 00:05:11,067 Speaker 4: young disabled girl, and in that moment I got to 86 00:05:11,147 --> 00:05:14,147 Speaker 4: change that into a world champion And that's one of 87 00:05:14,227 --> 00:05:15,987 Speaker 4: the greatest things that I get to walk away with 88 00:05:16,027 --> 00:05:18,707 Speaker 4: that It does go to show that sport can change 89 00:05:18,707 --> 00:05:21,027 Speaker 4: people's lives, and I've been able to do that for 90 00:05:22,227 --> 00:05:25,707 Speaker 4: my family and for myself and people with disabilities that 91 00:05:26,067 --> 00:05:29,747 Speaker 4: sport doesn't sorry, that a disability doesn't define who you are. 92 00:05:30,027 --> 00:05:33,667 Speaker 4: And yeah, I'm proud of that time. 93 00:05:33,707 --> 00:05:37,027 Speaker 2: So if you've operated in a high pressure, high performance 94 00:05:37,107 --> 00:05:40,307 Speaker 2: environment for so long, now, how much do you reckon 95 00:05:40,347 --> 00:05:42,907 Speaker 2: you'll enjoy not being in that environment. 96 00:05:44,627 --> 00:05:48,027 Speaker 4: Absolutely. I think there's also been another contributing factor to 97 00:05:48,547 --> 00:05:51,027 Speaker 4: my decision. You know, I have been in a high 98 00:05:51,067 --> 00:05:56,867 Speaker 4: performance environment for twenty years, and you know, to now, 99 00:05:57,747 --> 00:06:02,387 Speaker 4: you know, have that pressure release a little bit, it 100 00:06:02,467 --> 00:06:05,907 Speaker 4: is it is really enjoyable. I am far more relaxed, 101 00:06:05,907 --> 00:06:08,107 Speaker 4: for sure. I mean, I'm definitely on my toes all 102 00:06:08,107 --> 00:06:11,147 Speaker 4: the time with bringing up a son who's you know, 103 00:06:11,227 --> 00:06:15,347 Speaker 4: nearly one and running around and he's throwing new challenges 104 00:06:15,427 --> 00:06:18,187 Speaker 4: at me that I have to navigate but I love it. 105 00:06:18,227 --> 00:06:21,867 Speaker 4: You know, this is the beauty of motherhood and it's 106 00:06:21,947 --> 00:06:26,587 Speaker 4: just incredibly rewarding to know that, you know, he is 107 00:06:26,627 --> 00:06:28,627 Speaker 4: worth more than a gold medal in title to me 108 00:06:29,107 --> 00:06:33,147 Speaker 4: right now, and he sees me as mum, you know, 109 00:06:33,227 --> 00:06:35,867 Speaker 4: he doesn't put me on a pedestal and see me 110 00:06:35,907 --> 00:06:40,587 Speaker 4: as Sophie Pasco And you know, it's just it's a 111 00:06:40,627 --> 00:06:44,907 Speaker 4: really rewarding position to be in and I'm absolutely loving motherhood. 112 00:06:45,067 --> 00:06:48,267 Speaker 2: Brilliant stuff. Well, apart from your exploits in the pool, 113 00:06:48,347 --> 00:06:52,827 Speaker 2: which have been absolutely magnificent, you've been a driving force 114 00:06:52,867 --> 00:06:55,067 Speaker 2: in the Paralympic movement. I look at you know what 115 00:06:55,107 --> 00:06:58,507 Speaker 2: the Paralympic movement looked like when you entered it and 116 00:06:58,907 --> 00:07:01,227 Speaker 2: how it looks now and it's just streets ahead and 117 00:07:01,707 --> 00:07:03,947 Speaker 2: a lot of that is down to the trial you've 118 00:07:03,947 --> 00:07:08,587 Speaker 2: blazed so well. Your advocacy of the Paralympic movement continue 119 00:07:08,627 --> 00:07:11,267 Speaker 2: even though you're now retired as an athlete. 120 00:07:12,027 --> 00:07:15,907 Speaker 4: Absolutely, it doesn't leave me. You know, yes, it's goodbye 121 00:07:15,987 --> 00:07:18,627 Speaker 4: to following a black line and seeing me in the water, 122 00:07:19,707 --> 00:07:24,387 Speaker 4: but I certainly still will use my voice to you know, 123 00:07:24,667 --> 00:07:28,027 Speaker 4: relish the platform that I've been able to create to 124 00:07:28,147 --> 00:07:32,027 Speaker 4: enhance the Paralympic movement and you know, be an advocate 125 00:07:32,107 --> 00:07:35,787 Speaker 4: for inclusion and equality. It will never leave me. You know, 126 00:07:36,067 --> 00:07:38,587 Speaker 4: I have a huge passion for the sport and the 127 00:07:38,627 --> 00:07:44,987 Speaker 4: Paralympic community, and yeah, I'm here to continuously use that 128 00:07:45,107 --> 00:07:48,707 Speaker 4: voice that I've been able to create over the years 129 00:07:48,387 --> 00:07:53,427 Speaker 4: and empower others and share what the disabled community can 130 00:07:53,467 --> 00:07:55,547 Speaker 4: do on a world and global stage. 131 00:07:55,787 --> 00:07:57,307 Speaker 2: I know there'll be things that you won't miss, and 132 00:07:57,347 --> 00:07:58,907 Speaker 2: you've outlined a few of them, But what do you 133 00:07:58,947 --> 00:08:00,507 Speaker 2: think you'll miss the most? 134 00:08:02,387 --> 00:08:06,227 Speaker 4: I think what I'll miss the most is the friendships 135 00:08:07,787 --> 00:08:11,867 Speaker 4: and the racing. You know that seeing my friends overseas 136 00:08:12,747 --> 00:08:17,427 Speaker 4: getting in the race togs and feeling that adrenaline rush. Absolutely, 137 00:08:18,187 --> 00:08:20,467 Speaker 4: and most of all, I'm going to miss going into 138 00:08:21,147 --> 00:08:23,707 Speaker 4: you know, the gym and the pool every day and 139 00:08:23,747 --> 00:08:27,467 Speaker 4: seeing my other family. But you know, I've created lifelong 140 00:08:27,507 --> 00:08:30,867 Speaker 4: friendships with all those people that I've mentioned, and you know, 141 00:08:30,907 --> 00:08:34,027 Speaker 4: I know that I will still be able to connect 142 00:08:34,027 --> 00:08:37,867 Speaker 4: with them and share the new chapter and life's journeys 143 00:08:37,867 --> 00:08:38,227 Speaker 4: with them. 144 00:08:38,547 --> 00:08:40,867 Speaker 2: Well, Dame Sophie, you've been, as I mentioned, an absolute 145 00:08:40,907 --> 00:08:44,947 Speaker 2: trailblazer in the Paralympic movement. A role model to so 146 00:08:45,027 --> 00:08:50,827 Speaker 2: many people, and an exceptional athlete in our history. Congratulations 147 00:08:51,387 --> 00:08:53,907 Speaker 2: on everything you achieved. All the best for the next 148 00:08:54,027 --> 00:08:56,067 Speaker 2: chapter on It'll be an exciting one for you and 149 00:08:56,067 --> 00:08:58,667 Speaker 2: your family. Thanks so much for joining us today. Thank 150 00:08:58,707 --> 00:09:01,307 Speaker 2: you so much, Thank you, Dame Sophie. Dame Sophie Pasco 151 00:09:01,987 --> 00:09:05,707 Speaker 2: announcing this week that the curtain is coming down on 152 00:09:05,747 --> 00:09:08,547 Speaker 2: her ill swimming career. 153 00:09:09,427 --> 00:09:12,627 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 154 00:09:12,707 --> 00:09:16,027 Speaker 1: to news talks at B weekends from midday, or follow 155 00:09:16,067 --> 00:09:17,667 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.