Friday night was the second time life for Tupou Neiufi and her family changed forever.
As Neiufi powered through the water, excitement built with her family at home, culminating in a moment of celebration shared despite the thousands of kilometres separating them
Mum Lose told 1 NEWS there were plenty of tears of joy in the moment.
'Our family has made a lot of sacrifices, even our children, so definitely tears of joy,” she said.
That journey began when Neiufi was just two years old when she was the victim of a hit and run, leaving her partly paralysed down her left side.
The 20-year-old Auckland swimmer couldn't quite believe her achievement. (Source: Other)
“We were told they were surprised that she actually lived with the impact of the accident so she's our miricle child,” Lose said.
'It's something that we'll never forget - we have the date embedded in our mind; the 25th of February will be a date that we'll never forget.”
Claiming the top spot in the women's 100m backstroke S8 final was "unreal" and "overwhelming". (Source: Other)
Thankfully, Neiufi has now given them a new date to remember. August 27, the day their miracle child came up with gold.
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