Gold medallists headline Para-Swimming team for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Paralympic gold medallists Sophie Pascoe, Mary Fisher and Cameron Leslie have been selected to headline the Para-Swimming squad heading to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games this September.

The trio will be joined by fellow London 2012 Paralympians, Nikita Howarth and Rebecca Dubber, along with two rising stars on the world stage, Bryall McPherson and Jesse Reynolds.

The announcement was made at the team’s National Training Centre at AUT Millennium today and marks the second set of Para-Athletes to be announced to the New Zealand Team, following the Para-Sailors in March.

Between them, the Para-Swimming squad holds a staggering nine Paralympic titles, 22 World titles and 10 long course World Records. Together, they are expected to play a major role in New Zealand’s campaign to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, which open on 7 September, 2.5 weeks after the Olympics.

Sophie Pascoe, winner of six gold medals and four silver across two Paralympic Games (London 2012 and Beijing 2008) will proudly wear the silver fern for the third time in Rio de Janeiro, as she hopes to cement her place in the history books as one of New Zealand’s most successful Paralympians.

Mary Fisher, break-through Para-Swimmer at London 2012 with a stunning haul of a gold, two silver, a bronze and a world record, is officially listed as ‘one to watch in Rio’ by the International Paralympic Committee. Fisher will take to the water across multiple events in the vision impairment classification.

Cameron Leslie, gold medallist and World Record holder at Beijing 2008 and again at London 2012 will be competing at his third straight Paralympic Games. A veteran at only 26 years of age. Leslie will be looking to continue his outstanding performances against an increasingly competitive field in the individual medley.

New Zealand’s youngest ever Paralympian four years ago at just 13 years of age, Nikita Howarth will be competing at her second Paralympic Games. Currently ranked first in the world in two events and second in another, Howarth will be hoping her blistering form will take her all the way to a Rio podium.

London 2012 Paralympian, Rebecca Dubber, won two silver medals at the 2015 IPC Swimming World Championships. Dubber has seen a continual improvement in performance since the 2014 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships where she swam her fastest times since London 2012.

This wealth of experience will be invaluable as Paralympic Games debutants Bryall McPherson and Jesse Reynolds represent New Zealand at their first ever Paralympic Games.

Both McPherson and Reynolds have accelerated through the Paralympics New Zealand Para-Swimming Development programme, reaching the High Performance programme in record time. They will look to draw experience from a variety of international meets as they compete on the international stage in Rio.

The full Para-Swimming squad is:

CAPTION: L-R Top Row: Jesse Reynolds, Bryall McPherson, Sophie Pascoe, Nikita Howarth, Mary Fisher. Front Row: Rebecca Dubber. Credit: Getty Images