Sheila Mae Perez
Encyclopedia
Sheila Mae Perez, born in 1986, is a Filipina
Olympic diver
. Reuters
describes her as "one of the best divers in Southeast Asia
".
Perez was brought up in a poor family in Davao City
. She reportedly "helped her poverty-stricken parents make ends meet by diving from cargo ships to retrieve scrap metal".
She represented her country
at the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney
, finishing 32nd out of 56. She qualified to take part in the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
, but was reportedly "unable to compete". She represented the Philippines
at the 2008 Summer Olympics
at Beijing
for the second time.
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, becoming the first ever triple-gold medallist from the Philippines at the Games. 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.
In 2006, her life story was dramatised in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya
, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.
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.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
Olympic diver
Diving at the Summer Olympics
Diving was first introduced in the official programme of the Summer Olympic Games at the 1904 Games of St. Louis and has been an Olympic sport since. It was known as "fancy diving" for the acrobatic stunts performed by divers during the dive...
. Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
describes her as "one of the best divers in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
".
Perez was brought up in a poor family in Davao City
Davao City
The City of Davao is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines....
. She reportedly "helped her poverty-stricken parents make ends meet by diving from cargo ships to retrieve scrap metal".
She represented her country
Philippines at the 2000 Summer Olympics
The Philippines competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.-Archery:After a 12 year absence from Olympic archery, the Philippines sent one woman to the 2000 edition of the tournament...
at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, finishing 32nd out of 56. She qualified to take part in the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, but was reportedly "unable to compete". She represented the Philippines
Philippines at the 2008 Summer Olympics
The Philippines competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The country was represented by 15 athletes, who competed in 17 events across 8 sports....
at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
at Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
for the second time.
Perez won two medals at the 2003 Southeast Asian Games
2003 Southeast Asian Games
The 22nd Southeast Asian Games were held in Hanoi, Vietnam from 5 December - 13 December 2003. The games were opened by Vietnamese prime minister Phan Van Khai in the newly constructed My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. The games torch was lit by Nguyen Thuy Hien of Wushu...
, and three gold medals at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games
2005 Southeast Asian Games
The 23rd Southeast Asian Games were held in the Philippines from November 27 to December 5 in 2005. The games were participated by the eleven nations of Southeast Asia. This was the first time that the opening and closing ceremonies were held in a large open field, despite the fact that Manila...
, in the 3-metre springboard, synchronised 3-metre springboard and 1-metre springboard events, becoming the first ever triple-gold medallist from the Philippines at the Games. She won a gold and a silver in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games
2007 Southeast Asian Games
The 24th Southeast Asian Games was held in Nakhon Ratchasima , Thailand from December 6 to December 15, 2007....
, not having competed in the synchronised event due to her partner Ceseil Domenios, sister of another Filipino diver Zardo Domenios, having retired.
In 2006, her life story was dramatised in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya
Maalaala Mo Kaya
Maalaala Mo Kaya is a Philippine drama anthology series broadcast on ABS-CBN every Saturday evening and being hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. Currently, it became the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television and on Asia...
, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.
During the previous years, she had been planning to retire after the 2011 Southeast Asian Games
2011 Southeast Asian Games
The 26th Southeast Asian Games was held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia on 11 until 22 November 2011. Indonesia's fourth time to host the SEA Games, it last hosted the Games in 1997...
. After the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
, she reneged her plan and changed it to after the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
. 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.
External links
- "Scrap metal diver eyes Olympic gold", Reuters, May 23, 2008 (video report)