Pascoe breaking records at national champs

"I was definitely out to set those personal bests and I am happy with how everything is tracking. I've exceeded all expectations and nailed the race plan we had in place."

Sophie Pascoe, left.

Champion Paralympic swimmer Sophie Pascoe won’t compete at the World Para Swimming Championships next month, choosing to concentrate on the 2018 Commonwealth Games instead.

The worlds were to be held in Mexico last month, however due to the devastating earthquake they have been postponed until the end of November, which will no longer suit Pascoe’s schedule.

Pascoe claimed her third world record in two days at the National Short Course Championships held in Auckland this week and said she was happy with her efforts so far.

‘‘I was definitely out to set those personal bests and I am happy with how everything is tracking. I’ve exceeded all expectations and nailed the race plan we had in place.’’

Pascoe, from the QEII Swim Club, broke her own SM10 200m individual medley twice on Wednesday - first in the morning heats, then later in the final with a time of 2min21.45sec.

The 24-year-old followed up her success in the individual medley later in the day with a new personal best in the SB9 50m breaststroke - dipping under the

35-seconds mark for the first time. On Thursday Pascoe broke the

50m freestyle, 50m fly world record also.

Pascoe said her form has been near perfect as she has managed good starts, which she said was often a weakness. She said her racing has matured over the 15 years she has been swimming.

‘‘You get to mature every year and I’ve been doing this a while now, I’ve been around a long time now. You learn to be a better athlete at every race and execute a plan well.’’

Pascoe said she is still enjoying swimming and was devastated to be missing out on the world championships next month, but said it was the best call for her 2018 Commonwealth Games preparation.

‘‘To be able to back up my performance at the com games we have just made the call to miss this. You have to think what’s best physically and because it is high altitude in Mexico and we would have to train for that. It’s a real shame, I’d love to be able to race at the world champs.’’

After the national short course champs this week Pascoe will take a two-week holiday in Costa Rica to recuperate and that will be her last break until the end of the Commonwealth Games.

After this Pascoe will return to her hometown in Christchurch to train at the outside pools to get used to the same sort of conditions of the outdoor pools in the Gold Coast.

‘‘Although we don’t have a full length pool in Christchurch at the moment we have the outdoor.

‘‘It’s been quite a challenge in the last few years, but Christchurch is working in our favour.’’

Pascoe will train with other Commonwealth Games competitors from Christchurch including world triathlete Andrea Hewitt.

‘‘It will be really cool to be back with the team at home.’’

On average Pascoe spends four hours in the pool, one in the gym, an hour napping and one relaxing on any given day she said.

‘‘It can be a pretty lonely sport to ne honest.’’