Swimming: Pascoe makes fast start

Sophie Pascoe has qualified fastest for her opening event final on the first day of the world paralympic swimming championships. Photo / Getty.

World and Olympic champion Sophie Pascoe has qualified fastest for her opening event final on the first day of the world paralympic swimming championships, which began in Montreal today.

Christchurch swimmer Pascoe, winner of 10 Paralympic medals over the last two Games, clocked 1min 00.67s in advancing to the final of the S10 100m freestyle final, just .30s off her own world record set last year in England.

Pascoe is contesting five events in Montreal. New Zealand have a team of seven swimmers at the championships.