Sophie a winner in the pool

Sophie Newbold stands with the four medals she won at the Invercargill Secondary schools ribbon...
Sophie Newbold stands with the four medals she won at the Invercargill Secondary schools ribbon meet last week. Photo by Bridget Newbold.

She has strutted her stuff on the catwalk and she won gold in the pool, so what is next for Gibbston Valley's Sophie Newbold?

The 17-year-old won four medals - three golds and a bronze - at last week's Southland Secondary Schools ribbon meet in Invercargill, but she is keeping a level head.

"I never thought I'd be able to swim."

Sophie only began to learn how to swim in April, and just seven months later she not only competed, but won a handful of medals.

Now that she has had a taste of success gaining first place in the 20m freestyle, 20m backstroke, 40m backstroke and third in the 40m freestyle events at Splash Palace, she wants more medals.

"I'd love to do a real one," she said of the International Special Olympics.

"To get another gold medal would be great."

Miss Newbold was born with Cardio-Facio-Cutaneous (CFC) Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that typically affects the heart (cardio), facial features (facio) and skin (cutaneous). It is estimated that there are only 200-300 affected individuals in the world.

However, it is Sophie's drive and determination that have set her apart from the crowd.

At the start of the year, Sophie decided she wanted to be a model, and set about making that dream come true.

After spending a day with New Zealand's Top Model judge Colin Mathura-Jeffee in Auckland learning the ropes, Sophie made her modelling debut in a charity fashion show held in Cromwell.

Having ticked that box, she turned her attention to swimming, something her mother admits she was a little more hesitant to say yes to.

"Her sisters have always done so well at their sports, especially skiing and swimming.

"This has been her chance to step up and give it a go."

Sophie's older sisters, Charlotte and Frances, represent New Zealand at skiing and Otago at swimming, respectively.

But like every youngest sibling, Sophie wanted her own piece of glory.

"I'm so proud of her," Mrs Newbold said.

Sophie said she is only just beginning, and is now aiming to compete at the Otago meet, in Dunedin on November 12-13.

She said she gets her inspiration from her two older sisters, her mother, her father Peter and, of course, her favourite All Black, Colin Slade.

"I like Colin, he's cute."

Miss Newbold's next big goal is to get a part-time job and then get up the mountain next year to have a crack at skiing.

Watch this space.

 

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