Both Sophie Pascoe and Mary Fisher followed up one good with another at the State New Zealand Open Championships in Auckland.
Both swimmers broke the 50 butterfly world record in their respective categories in both their preliminary and final swims on Tuesday. On Wednesday Pascoe broke the world record in the 50 freestyle while Fisher took down the world record in the 200 butterfly.
Pascoe who finished second in the Paralympics behind the former world record holder Canadian Summer Mortimer was ecstatic to have finally surpassed her rival in the record books, “I am really happy with that. I’ve been waiting for that one for two years. It was held by my main rival Summer (Mortimer) so it’s nice to say that Summer’s out and winter’s in,” Pascoe joked.
“It’s a personal best for me and my times are up at world record standard so that is what I try to do every time I get in the pool. That was a huge personal best and I came out with a world record as well which was a bonus.”
Fisher destroyed the 200 butterfly mark of 3:01.10 by swimming a 2:50.93, “It’s good now that our world championships are aligned to the FINA world championships that means we can come here to qualify,” Fisher said.
“It’s been great to be part of it and get such awesome support. I also had my family, friends and flatmates come up for Wellington so the support has been fantastic.”