Eileen Coparropa

Infobox Swimmer
swimmername=Eileen Coparropa


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fullname = Eileen Mary Coparropa Alemán
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nationality = PAN
strokes = freestyle
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collegeteam = Auburn Tigers
birthdate = birth date and age|1981|3|31
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Eileen Mary Coparropa Alemán (born March 31, 1981) is a female freestyle swimmer from Panama, who won a silver and a bronze medal in the women's 50m freestyle event at the Pan American Games. Nicknamed "La Sirena de Oro" she represented her native country at four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1992.

Coparropa carried the Panamanian flag at three Olympiads, won more than 400 gold medals at regional competitions and hers became one of few dark faces to appear in Panamanian television ads. Politicians of all of this country's parties wanted to be photographed with her, and they renamed the national pool after her.

Coparropa has never won an Olympic medal, but was good enough to be recruited by the Auburn University, one of the top NCAA swimming and diving powers. On that university's team she wasn't the best at her specialties, the 50 meter and 100 meter freestyle sprints. She was, however, part of several of the best US university relay teams, earning All-American honors in so doing.

References

* [http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_12/issue_01/business_01.html Profile]
* [http://www.depormax.com/panama/2003/11/01/centenario_olimpiadas.shtml DeporMax]