20 Jul 2015

NZ para-swimmers will be a force in Rio

1:11 pm on 20 July 2015

The New Zealand Para-Swimming team have shown themselves as a force to be reckoned with at next years' Rio Paralympic Games.

The team of eight has been in top form over the six days of the IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, finishing the event ranked 1st in the world by capita for medals won, securing five Rio 2016 spots for the country and winning 16 medals.

Mary Fisher and Sophie Pascoe were the biggest contributors to the medal haul with a total of 11 medals between them including six Gold, three Silver and two Bronze.

While team mate Nikita Howarth won the further two Gold medals. Rebecca Dubber and Cameron Leslie swam great personal best times to win a total of three Silver medals.

Mary Fisher

Mary Fisher (above) who along with Sophie Pascoe won 11 of New Zealand's 16 medals. Photo: Photosport

The team's head coach Jon Shaw said the team's medal haul was outstanding.

"We set ourselves the ambitious target of securing five slots and we have achieved this due to the enormous efforts of all Para-Swimmers and support team here and back in New Zealand, I could not be more proud."

On the final day of competition Fisher again led the way winning Silver in the Women's S11 50m Freestyle.

Fisher took the option to race this event once again following a deemed interference during the event on Day 5.

She bettered her original time and moved up to win the silver medal.