'I wouldn't be here today' – The question that saved Sophie Pascoe's life
Dame Sophie Pascoe is speaking openly about her experience with severe depression during the height of her athletic career. The 19-time Paralympic medallist shared her story on the podcast Ask Me Anything with Paula Bennett, detailing how the sudden disruption of the Tokyo Paralympics due to the pandemic triggered a significant mental health struggle.
Pascoe described feeling lost after her singular focus on swimming was interrupted. She withdrew, lost her sense of identity, and suffered in silence. The turning point occurred when members of her support team recognized the severity of her situation and initiated a direct conversation about her wellbeing. Their intervention provided the clinical and personal support she needed to recover.
Her recovery process shifted the focus from her athletic goals to her health as an individual. She now emphasizes the importance of asking for help and urges people to reach out to those they trust when they are struggling. Pascoe remains a strong advocate for proactive mental health support, noting that the simple act of checking on a friend can be a life-saving action.
Her experience highlights the often invisible challenges faced by high-performance athletes when their career trajectory is disrupted. Pascoe continues to advocate for the necessity of prioritizing personal wellbeing over professional milestones.