- Sheila Mae Pérez
Sheila Mae Perez, born in 1986, is a Filipina Olympic diver.
Reuters describes her as "one of the best divers insoutheast Asia ". [ [http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/man242364-olympics-diving-perez/ "Fun and faith guide Philippine diver"] , Reuters, June 23, 2008]Perez was brought up in a poor family in
Davao City . [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2006/04/27/life/sheila.mae.shares.life.struggle.in.maalaala.mo.kaya.html "Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya"] , "Sun Star", April 27, 2006] She reportedly "helped her poverty-stricken parents make ends meet by diving from cargo ships to retrieve scrap metal". [ [http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=83079&videoChannel=1004 "Scrap metal diver eyes Olympic gold"] , Reuters, May 23, 2008]She represented her country at the
2000 Summer Olympics inSydney [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2006/04/27/life/sheila.mae.shares.life.struggle.in.maalaala.mo.kaya.html "Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya"] , "Sun Star", April 27, 2006] , finishing 32nd out of 56. [ [http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/man242364-olympics-diving-perez/ "Fun and faith guide Philippine diver"] , Reuters, June 23, 2008] She qualified to take part in the2004 Summer Olympics inAthens , but was reportedly "unable to compete". [ [http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/man242364-olympics-diving-perez/ "Fun and faith guide Philippine diver"] , Reuters, June 23, 2008] She will represent the Philippines again at the2008 Summer Olympics inBeijing . [ [http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/05/content_8315848.htm "From scratch, Philippine diver trying to make a splash at Olympics"] , Xinhua, June 5, 2008]Perez won two medals at the
2003 Southeast Asian Games , and three gold medals at the2005 Southeast Asian Games , in the 3-metre springboard, synchronised 3-metre springboard and 1-metre springboard events [ [http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/man242364-olympics-diving-perez/ "Fun and faith guide Philippine diver"] , Reuters, June 23, 2008] , becoming the first ever triple-gold medallist from the Philippines at the Games. [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2006/04/27/life/sheila.mae.shares.life.struggle.in.maalaala.mo.kaya.html "Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya"] , "Sun Star", April 27, 2006] [ [http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=sports02_dec01_2005 "Perez turns pool into own playground"] , "Manilla Standard Today", December 2, 2005] She won a gold and a silver in the2007 Southeast Asian Games , not having competed in the synchronised event due to her partnerCecile Dominios having retired. [ [http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&sec=reader&rp=1&fi=p080104.htm&no=3&date= "Olympian Sheila Mae promises to land in world's top 20"] , Philippine Information Agency (Philippines government), January 4, 2008]In 2006, her life story was dramatised in an episode of "
Maalaala Mo Kaya ", directed byCathy Garcia-Molina . [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dav/2006/04/27/life/sheila.mae.shares.life.struggle.in.maalaala.mo.kaya.html "Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya"] , "Sun Star", April 27, 2006]External link
* [http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=83079&videoChannel=1004 "Scrap metal diver eyes Olympic gold"] , Reuters, May 23, 2008 (video report)
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.