Gold medal, world record for peerless Pascoe

The peerless Sophie Pascoe grabbed her second gold medal in a new world record on day four of action at the Paralympics pool in Rio today.

It was the eighth gold medal for the 23 year old in her third Paralympics, and one of her more commanding of victories in the 200m individual medley S10.

Pascoe was in complete command, pushing into a two length advantage after the first leg butterfly and in the end was more than five seconds clear of the second placed Aurelie Rivard (CAN).

The victory in 2:24.90 broke her world record to become the first S10 swimmer to go under the 2:25 barrier.

“To be good at all four strokes and to put it all together in one race is challenging," said Pascoe.

"I set the benchmark pretty high four years ago setting the world record with a 2:25 and to finally turn around tonight and see a 2:24 I am just absolutely stoked.

"I am really relieved and could not be happier to be able to share this moment with my family, friends and support team.”

It is her third medal of the Paralympics, with two more events to come – the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle in which Pascoe won at the London Paralympics and is the current world champion.

Earlier Pascoe was impressive in her heat, as the fastest qualifier in 2:27.44 and the only swimmer under the 2:30 mark.

Tomorrow is a busy day in the pool for the New Zealand team with Cameron Leslie SM4 and Hamish McLean SM6 in the individual medley; Mary Fisher in the S11 50m freestyle (where she won the bronze medal in London); Tupou Neiufi in the S9 100m freestyle; Nikita Howarth in the S7 50m butterfly and Pascoe in the 100m butterfly.

The Paralympics swimming action is live on Duke Channel.

CAPTION: Sophie Pascoe. Credit BW Media.

Rio 2016 Paralympic