Paralympics: Sophie Pascoe strikes gold for second medal

Gold medalist Sophie Pascoe shows her emotion on the podium at the medal ceremony for the Women's 100m Backstroke - S10. Photo / Getty

New Zealand swimmer Sophie Pascoe has won gold in the women's 100m backstroke S10 at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Pascoe, who took silver in the 50m freestyle S10 on Saturday (NZT), clocked 1min 07.04sec to beat Hungary's Bianka Pap by nearly a full second.

The 23-year-old Kiwi had earlier posted the fastest qualifying time in the heats, although her 1:07.23 was well outside her personal best of 1:05.95.

Sophie Pascoe reacts to winning a gold medal in the women's 100-meter backstroke S10 final. Photo / AP

Pascoe has amassed 11 Paralympic medals in total, winning three golds and three silvers in London four years ago, and two gold and a silver at Beijing in 2008.

New Zealand's Paralympic medal tally at Rio to date sits at seven, comprising three golds, two silvers and two bronzes.

Mary Fisher, who earlier set a world record to earn gold in the women's 100m backstroke S11, finished fourth in the 400m freestyle on Sunday.

Long jumper Anna Grimaldi won New Zealand's first gold of the Paralympics two days ago with a personal best 5.62m in the women's T47 event.