Dame Sophie Pascoe PLY DNZM is New Zealand’s most successful Paralympian and a respected sporting role model. Throughout her career, sport has given her much more than medals – it has provided enjoyment, friendships, belonging, confidence and a lifelong support network.
When Dame Sophie looks back on her sporting journey, she doesn’t start with the medals. She remembers the people. The coaches who believed in her. The teammates who supported her. The family who encouraged her. The environments where she felt accepted and valued.
In our latest Balance is Better Champion video, Dame Sophie reflects on the role these people played in helping her build confidence, find belonging and stay involved in sport.
For adults supporting young people in sport, her message is simple: positive sport experiences don’t happen by chance. They are created by the people around them.
What helped Dame Sophie feel she belonged?
Dame Sophie says sport gave her a sense of belonging because she was treated as a person first. Her teammates, coaches and wider support network saw her as Sophie first. They created an environment where she felt included, supported and valued.
That sense of belonging helped her stay connected to sport for more than 2 decades. It also shaped how she sees success today. While her achievements in the pool are significant, she says the relationships, friendships and life lessons are what she values most.
What can adults do?
Whether you’re a parent, whānau member, coach, volunteer or administrator, Dame Sophie believes you can make a lasting difference by:
- helping young people feel valued for who they are, not just their performance
- creating environments that are inclusive, supportive and enjoyable
- encouraging young people to speak up and have a voice
- being someone they can turn to when they need support
- remembering that enjoyment, friendships and personal growth matter as much as results.
More than winning
Dame Sophie’s story is a reminder that sport is about more than winning medals.
Sport can help young people build confidence, develop friendships, learn life skills and discover where they belong. Those experiences can stay with them long after the final whistle, race or game.
As Dame Sophie reflects, the medals are memorable, but it’s often the people beside us and how they made us feel that stay with us longest.
Watch Dame Sophie Pascoe’s Balance is Better Champion video and explore how we can all help young people feel they belong in sport.
