From gold to governance: Sophie Pascoe jumps in the deep end
Paralympic legend Dame Sophie Pascoe DNZM is navigating a new playing field. She reflects on identity, influence and why the boardroom might just be her next podium.
For more than two decades, the name Dame Sophie Pascoe DNZM was etched into New Zealand’s national identity – not just for her Paralympic feats, but for her resilience, humility and fierce determination.
A decorated athlete with 19 Paralympic medals (11 gold) and 27 World Championship medals to her name, she has stood proudly on the world stage, often single-handedly carrying the hopes of a nation. But as her competitive swimming career ends, Pascoe is now in uncharted waters.
“I’ve just retired one chapter of my life,” she says. “It’s tricky to even understand the word ‘retirement’ because I haven’t had something to move into – until now.”
Pascoe, 32, is now in the quiet space left behind by elite sport, where structured routines and a dedicated support network once shaped every decision.
“At 12, I had a high-performance support team put around me. Now, I’m back at square one – rebuilding a new support network myself for this next chapter.
“It feels like being seven again, chasing a dream. But this time, I’m an adult in this unknown environment. I was lucky to have people who helped me become the best athlete I could be – now it’s on me to shape what comes next.
“I’m very fortunate that during my time as a swimmer, I was given the resources to think about life after swimming. As we all know, sport isn’t a long-term career. Now I need to build the right network to succeed.”
Over the past two years, Pascoe’s personal and professional lives have shifted dramatically. After stepping back from competition and missing the 2024 Paris Games to start a family, she gave birth to her son – an experience she describes as transformative.
“I just didn’t have time to think about what was coming next. I was focused on my pregnancy and then being present with my son.”
What has emerged is a deepening curiosity about leadership, influence and how decisions are made beyond the pool. In 2022, Swimming New Zealand invited her to join its board as an apprentice – a role designed to develop governance capability while providing space for athlete voices to be heard.
Pascoe did not know about the role until she received a call from the chair.
She leapt at the opportunity. “I get to be across all the governance – to listen, to learn and to offer an athlete’s perspective. I don’t have a vote, but I have a voice – and that matters.
“What’s been powerful is seeing where everyone around the table comes from. Some directors are on multiple boards, and they bring knowledge from across different sectors. It’s not just business acumen – it’s their insight, mindset and networks.”
“There’s so much that happens behind the scenes that athletes never see. Understanding how decisions are made – especially hard ones – has changed my view.”
Pascoe says the experience has not only built her confidence but given her a deeper understanding of leadership, risk, funding pressures and how boards shape long-term strategy, especially in minority sports such as swimming.
“We haven’t won an able-bodied Olympic swimming gold since Danyon Loader [at Atlanta in 1996]. In the Paralympic space, we have medalled since 1968 – until recently. That’s significant. And being in the room where those realities are discussed – that’s powerful and that’s just the High Performance side of SNZ.”
She is quick to point out that learning governance has not been easy. “There’s a lot to take in. You must be across everything – finance, risk, operations and performance. Some areas I naturally gravitate to; others I’ve found harder. But that’s the value of it: you are constantly learning all the time.”
One of her greatest takeaways has been the importance of seeing the bigger picture. “There’s so much that happens behind the scenes that athletes never see. Understanding how decisions are made – especially hard ones – has changed my view.”
"It helped me realise the athlete may be the face of the organisation, but there’s a massive working wheel behind them."
“You must understand that an organisation is bigger than any one individual. Sometimes, the best decision for the organisation isn’t the best decision for the athlete in the moment. That’s hard to accept, but it’s real.”
Pascoe has also found herself acting as a bridge between athletes and governance, with her unique perspective – elite athlete, new mum, disabled woman, Paralympian – proving invaluable in the boardroom.
“Sport is more than just performance – it’s about people. Sometimes I sit in board meetings and think, can we just translate that into athlete language? I get to be the person who bridges that gap. That’s where I can really add value.”
That bridge role has recently grown through her involvement in a new athlete voice group, initiated by athletes and now supported by the board. “It hasn’t formally launched yet, but it is on its way. There are six of us – current and former swimmers – and we are building stronger communication channels between the organisation and the athletes.”
What she values most about her current board is the openness. “Everyone is encouraged to speak up. That’s not true everywhere, but it’s how real impact happens.
“Fortunately, our board culture encourages open discussion. I’m comfortable speaking up, and I think that’s key.”
She also believes generational diversity is becoming more important. “Governance is becoming attractive to younger people. They want to make change and boards need to be ready for that.”
While governance is still a new domain for her, she is eager to deepen her skills, exploring courses and resources to strengthen her capability.
“I know I can contribute in a positive way,” she says. “Being on this board has opened my world, and I’d love to step into a full director role – either with Swimming New Zealand or another organisation.”
She is under no illusion that her name alone will carry her. “When a board role comes up, I’ll be like anyone else – going through interviews, being assessed by external people. And I think that’s right. I believe in fair game.”
What will set her apart, she says, is the leadership experience she brings, not just from sport but her understanding of the importance of diversity – not as a slogan but as a lived reality.
“Being a Paralympic athlete, being disabled – those perspectives matter. They can shape how a board makes decisions. I bring that to the table.
“There’s so much more I want to do,” she says. “This is a different world, but I know I belong here, too.”
Sophie Pascoe’s key insights
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