Paralympics star Dame Sophie Pascoe will miss her investitute ceremony this week with an ill-timed case of COVID-19.
The recordbreaking swimmer became the youngest-ever Dame in 2022 New Year's Honours and was due to officially received her office in a Christchurch Town Hall ceremony on Thursday.
But Pascoe, 29, has mailed in her apologies from her sickbed, via Instagram, as she recovers from her illness.
"There's never a perfect time and it sure isn't one for me at the moment," she posted. "Down with COVID.
"I'm disappointed to miss the investiture ceremony tomorrow, but will look forward to another ceremony at a later date.
"For now, I'm resting up at home, before travelling to Birmingham and competing at the Commonwealth Games at the end of this month."
Last year, Dame Sophie took her Paralympics medal haul to 19 - including 11 gold - at Tokyo, to consolidate her standing as New Zealand's most successful performer on that stage.
"I've taken this title with absolute pride and honour," she told Newshub of her Damehood. "I don't think it's really sunk in yet.
"This will hopefully be really impactful in a positive way to people living with a disability, but not only that, to people within the swimming community."
After contesting five events at Tokyo, Pascoe has reduced her workload at Birmingham, scheduled to race just 100m freestyle on the opening day of competition in the pool. She already has four Commonwealth Games gold medals from Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018.
Last month, Dame Sophie also announced her engagement to Rob Samson.
"I said the biggest YES to forver with @rddsamson!" she posted on Instagram.
