Dame Sophie Pascoe, DNZM, of Christchurch, for services to swimming
Dame Sophie Pascoe is New Zealand’s most decorated Paralympian, winning 19 medals across four Paralympic Games, 28 medals across five World Championships and four medals in two Commonwealth Games.
Dame Sophie made her international debut aged 13, winning a bronze medal at the IPC Swimming World Championships.
Two years later she won three gold medals and one silver at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. At the 2012 Paralympic Games, she secured three gold medals in the 100 metre freestyle, 100 metre butterfly, and 200 metre individual medley events, setting world records for the latter two.
She also won three silver medals in the 100 metre backstroke, 100 metre breaststroke and 50 metre freestyle.
She achieved a further three gold and two silver medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games, setting a world record in the 200 metre women’s individual medley.
She has won 17 gold medals across four World Championships. She won gold in the 100 metre breaststroke and 200 metre individual medley at both the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
She has been named Disabled Sportsperson of the Year on six occasions at the Halberg Awards and was named Para Athlete of the Decade in 2020.
Dame Sophie is a role model in the disabled community and Paralympian movement, and an advocate for equality and changing perceptions of people with disabilities.