21-year old New Zealand swimmer Sophie Pascoe has pulled out of the 2014 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships, robbing the meet of its second Oceanic star.
Pascoe rose to prominence in 2008 at the Beijing Paralympic Games as just a 15-year old, where she won gold medals in the S10 100 back, SB9 100 breast, and SM10 200 IM. She doubled that total in London in 2012 with golds in the S10 100 free, the S10 100 fly, and again the SM10 200 IM, part of a total of 10 career Paralympic medals.
Most recently, Pascoe won two gold medals in a Commonwealth Games performance.
“Due to my continued health issues, I am unfortunately on my way home to NZ to recover and be with my family,” Pascoe said on her Facebook page. “I am really gutted that I have had to pull out of Pan Pacific champs, but I am proud to have represented my country and win 2 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games. Thanks for all the continued support!”
Previously, Australian Jacqueline Freney was not on the psych sheets for the meet, though she has not officially announced that she’s pulling out.
