Tokyo Paralympians Return Victorious

New Zealand’s Paralympians have returned from Tokyo with a medal count of 12, including six gold. It was the athletics and swimming show for New Zealand, with all of the medals coming from those two sports, Stuff reports.

New Zealand’s greatest Paralympian, Sophie Pascoe, 28, returned the biggest individual medal haul with four – two gold, a silver and a bronze – from her five events. She now sits on a career tally of 19, the news website reports.

Asked about her time in Tokyo, Pascoe said: “It’s been quite a whirlwind of a week and it’ll probably sink in when I’m in MIQ and I take time to reflect. Right now there’s a lot to take in.”

The other medal in the pool was a breakthrough gold for 20-year-old Tupou Neiufi which was New Zealand’s first of the Games, in the 100m backstroke S8.

Original article by Stuff, September 5, 2021.

Photo by Jacek Czech.