Paula Barila Bolopa

Paula Barila Bolopa, born in 1981 or 1982, is a swimmer from Equatorial Guinea. She was one of two Equatorial Guinean swimmers to compete at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the other being Eric Moussambani.

Following Moussambani's struggling but courageous performance in the men's 100 metres freestyle event, the media turned their attention to his female compatriot. According to "The Telegraph", "the spectator gallery was almost full as the news spread that a female Eric was making an appearance." [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2000/09/23/spswi.xml "Swimming: Next to Paula Eric the Eel is electric"] , Martin Johnson, "The Telegraph", November 7, 2000] A correspondant for "The Times" reported::"Paula Barila Boropa, still dripping wet from her swim, was under siege. Tape recorders were being thrust in her face and an interpreter was translating her comments from Spanish for American television stations. Somebody passed her a mobile phone so she could talk live to a radio presenter in Madrid and when she was asked whether she had signed any autographs since fame embraced her, she furrowed her brow in indignation. “Muchos,” she said. She and Celebrity had quickly become fast friends." [ [http://www.times-olympics.co.uk/communities/swimming/swimmingrepor53.html "Trio of try-hards splash their way into our hearts"] , Oliver Holt, "The Times", September 22, 2000]

Barila Bolopa competed in the women's 50 metres freestyle, and finished last in her heat [Not counting Bahrain's Fatema Hameed Gerashi, who was disqualified.] with a time of 01:03.97, which was double the second-worst time [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998095,00.html "Olympic-Size Freeloading"] , Joel Stein, "Time", October 2, 2000] , and reportedly the slowest time in Olympic history for that event. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/photo_gallery/937131.stm "Swimming - day seven in pictures"] , BBC, September 22, 2000] She received loud support and encouragement from spectators. [ [http://cgi.cnnsi.com/olympics/newswire/2000/09/21/1072266015154_afp/ "Barila Bolopa paddles her way to Olympic stardom"] , Agence France-Presse, September 21, 2000] [ [http://olympics.scmp.com/Article.aspx?id=1316 "Heroic Losers"] , Agence France-Presse, July 18, 2008]

Barila Bolopa gained entry to the Olympics without meeting the minimum qualification requirements via a wildcard draw designed to encourage developing countries without expensive training facilities to participate. Equatorial Guinea has only two pools, neither of them Olympic-sized. She had never swum in a 50-metre pool before. After the race, she commented: "It's the first time I've swum 50 metres. It was further than I thought. I was very tired." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/swimming/937133.stm "'Paula the Crawler' sets record"] , BBC, September 22, 2000]

The BBC commented: "Bolopa and Moussambani have become two of the stars of the Sydney Olympics much like Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards became a hero at the 1988 Calgary Olympics for his brave but laughable attempts at ski-jumping." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympics2000/swimming/937133.stm "'Paula the Crawler' sets record"] , BBC, September 22, 2000] "The Telegraph" likewise commented that Barila had "recapture [d] the spirit of Eddie the Eagle". [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2000/09/23/spswi.xml "Swimming: Next to Paula Eric the Eel is electric"] , Martin Johnson, "The Telegraph", November 7, 2000] The Agence France-Presse reported that she had "gained Olympic hero status", and commented: "She brought out the spectators' affection for a courageous, have-a-go hero who dared to compete knowing she would probably be the worst-ever Olympian in that event." [ [http://olympics.scmp.com/Article.aspx?id=1316 "Heroic Losers"] , Agence France-Presse, July 18, 2008]

Barila worked as a supermarket cashier at the time of the Games. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/sydney/story/0,,372107,00.html "Debut girl falls foul of gulf in international standards"] , "The Guardian", September 23, 2000]

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