Sheila Mae Pérez

Sheila Mae Perez, born in 1986, is a Filipina Olympic diver. Reuters describes her as "one of the best divers in Southeast Asia".[1]

Sheila Mae Pérez
Medal record
Diving
Representing  Philippines
Southeast Asian Games
2005 Philippines 3-Metre springboard
2005 Philippines Synchronised 3-Metre Springboard
2005 Philippines 1-Metre Springboard
2007 Nakhon Ratchasima 3-Metre Springboard
2007 Nakhon Ratchasima 1-Metre Springboard
2009 Vientiane 3-Metre Springboard
2011 Indonesia 3-Metre Springboard (Sync)

Perez was brought up in a poor family in Davao City.[2] She reportedly "helped her poverty-stricken parents make ends meet by diving from cargo ships to retrieve scrap metal".[3]

She represented her country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney,[4] finishing 32nd out of 56.[5] She qualified to take part in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, but was reportedly "unable to compete".[6] She represented the Philippines at the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing for the second time.[7]

Perez won two medals at the 2003 Southeast Asian Games, and three gold medals at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, in the 3-metre springboard, synchronised 3-metre springboard and 1-metre springboard events,[8] becoming the first ever triple-gold medallist from the Philippines at the Games.[9][10] She won a gold and a silver in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games, not having competed in the synchronised event due to her partner Ceseil Domenios, sister of another Filipino diver Zardo Domenios, having retired.[11]

In 2006, her life story was dramatised in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.[12]

During the previous years, she had been planning to retire after the 2011 Southeast Asian Games. After the 2008 Summer Olympics, she reneged her plan and changed it to after the 2012 Summer Olympics. In addition, she said she wants to be part of the RP national diving coaching staff after her retirement. Still, she said her sister whose name is Blissa will replace her as one of the next female Filipino divers to represent the Philippines at international diving competitions. Blissa is currently under the developmental pool.[13]

References
  1. "Fun and faith guide Philippine diver", Reuters, June 23, 2008
  2. "Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya" Archived 2008-06-10 at the Wayback Machine, Sun Star, April 27, 2006
  3. "Scrap metal diver eyes Olympic gold", Reuters, May 23, 2008
  4. "Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya" Archived 2008-06-10 at the Wayback Machine, Sun Star, April 27, 2006
  5. "Fun and faith guide Philippine diver", Reuters, June 23, 2008
  6. "Fun and faith guide Philippine diver", Reuters, June 23, 2008
  7. "From scratch, Philippine diver trying to make a splash at Olympics", Xinhua, June 5, 2008
  8. "Fun and faith guide Philippine diver", Reuters, June 23, 2008
  9. "Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya" Archived 2008-06-10 at the Wayback Machine, Sun Star, April 27, 2006
  10. "Perez turns pool into own playground", Manilla Standard Today, December 2, 2005
  11. "Olympian Sheila Mae promises to land in world's top 20", Philippine Information Agency (Philippines government), January 4, 2008
  12. "Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya" Archived 2008-06-10 at the Wayback Machine, Sun Star, April 27, 2006
  13. "Perez Guns for Olympic Berth" Archived 2008-05-08 at the Wayback Machine, Sun Star, January 4, 2008
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