Paralympic Gold Medalist Switches to Shot Put for LA 2028

A Paralympic gold medalist who spent two decades staring at the bottom of a pool is now chasing a different kind of glory on land.

Tupou Neiufi won gold in the 100m backstroke at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, representing New Zealand with pride. But after years of early morning training sessions and chlorine-soaked workouts, the 25-year-old South Auckland athlete needed a change.

She's now competing in shot put and loving every minute of it. "I've always wanted to do something other than look at the black line at the bottom of a pool," Tupou says. "I was burning out and needed a change."

The switch hasn't been easy. At her first international athletics competition in Darwin this May, she finished ninth while competing against fellow Kiwi Paralympic medalists. But Tupou embraced the challenge with the same determination that made her a swimming champion at just 15 years old.

Her journey started with tragedy. At age two, a hit-and-run accident left her with hemiplegia, meaning the left side of her body is smaller and weaker. A traumatic brain injury causes her to tire quickly.

Swimming became her tool for building strength and resilience. Now she's applying those same lessons to a completely new sport, adapting her pre-competition rituals along the way. "I have to sing songs to myself," she laughs, noting how different it is from the headphone-wearing swimmers at the pool blocks.

Why This Inspires

Tupou's story goes beyond athletic achievement. As a disability support worker, she's channeling her experiences into helping others live their fullest lives. "Growing up, I never wanted to work with disability because it reminded me too much of my own," she admits.

That changed when she realized the impact she could have. Now she's passionate about supporting people with disabilities and planning to further her studies in disability and aged care when she moves to Australia.

She's also bringing visibility to invisible disabilities. Her story appears in the new children's book "Kiwi Health Heroes," where she shares how many people don't realize she has a disability until they see her competing. "It was nice to tell my story and spread awareness," she says.

Despite her upcoming move to Perth, Tupou remains committed to representing New Zealand. "Aotearoa will always be home," she says firmly, adding that she'll return to settle after exploring life abroad in her twenties and thirties.

Her ultimate goal? Competing in both swimming and shot put at the 2028 LA Paralympics, proving that reinvention and loyalty can coexist beautifully.