Swimming icon Sophie Pascoe has wrapped up her incredible Tokyo Paralympics campaign off the podium, finishing fifth over S9 100m butterfly.
After victories on consecutive nights over 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley, the Kiwi was understandably exhausted and needed oxygen after her effort 24 hours earlier.
Ultimately, eight races in four days took a toll on Pascoe, who was not able to drag one last performance out of the bag.
After qualifying third fastest from the morning's heats, the Cantabrian powered off the blocks in the final and led Hungarian rival Zsofia Konkoly by more than a second at halfway.
Her start was a carbon copy of the medley's opening leg on Wednesday, when she built a huge advantage over butterfly, but only just held off Konkoly's freestyle finish for victory.
This time, Pascoe, 28, simply ran out of gas over the final 50 metres and was powerless to respond, as Konkoly swam past for the gold medal in a games record 1m 06.55s, followed by American Elizabeth Smith, Spaniard Sarai Gascon and Brit Toni Shaw.
The Kiwi - a left-leg amputee - clocked 1m 09.31s and finishes the Tokyo Paralympics with two gold, a silver and a bronze from five events, bringing her career tally to 19 medals overall.
"It's pretty gut-wrenching right now, but it is what it is," she sobs. "All I can say is I left it all out there.
"I've got a lot more work to do, but with the past year, doing the programme I did, what I've achieved during this meet... it's been a journey and a half and I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
Pascoe has been off her best times throughout this competition and had to reassess her goals, after struggling for motivation through COVID-19 lockdown over the past 18 months.
"I'm sorry I couldn't give the performance I know I'm capable of today, but thanks to everyone who got me here - I can't wait to get home."
Thursday, September 2
SWIMMING
Men’s 100m butterfly heats - Jesse Reynolds (S9), 6th 1m 05.64s (does not progress)
Women’s 100m butterfly heats - Sophie Pasce (S9), 2nd 1m 09.58s (progresses to final)
Women’s 100m butterfly final - Sophie Pasce (S9), 5th 1m 09.31s
CYCLING
Women’s road race - Nicole Murray (C5), 6th 2h 25m 27s
Men’s road race - Stephen Hills (T2), 6th 54m 13s
Women’s road race - Eltje Malzbender (T1) did not finish
CANOE
Men’s kayak single heats - Scott Martlew (KL2), 1st 43.588s (progresses to final)
Men’s kayak single heats - Corbin Hart (KL3), 6th 43.538s (progresses to semi-finals)
Men’s Va'a single heats - Scott Martlew (VL3), 6th 55.439s (progresses to semi-finals)
ATHLETICS
12:01am (Sept 3) Women’s 100m heats - Anna Steven (T64)
