Sheila Taormina
Encyclopedia
Sheila Taormina is an Olympic athlete from the United States
, who has competed at 4 Olympics (1996–2008) and was the first woman to qualify for the Olympics in 3 different sports (swimming, triathlon and modern pentathlon). At the 1996 Olympics
, she earned a gold medal
as a member of the USA's winning women's 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay
team.
, Taormina earned a BBA
in 1992 and an MBA
in 1994 from the University of Georgia
. She captained Georgia's 1991 team, won All-America honors all four years of her collegiate career and won the Southeastern Conference
400-meter individual medley as senior. She was the first UGA swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal and the first UGA athlete to make the Olympic team in multiple sports
Sheila handed her gold medal to her twin brother after becoming the olympics champion, and he dropped it to the floor and some parts of it are rotten.
. She took sixth place with a total time of 2:02:45.91. Her split times were 19:02.78 for the swim, 1:06:24.30 for the cycling, and 0:37:18.83 for the run.
In 2004, Taormina won the ITU Triathlon World Championship title while residing in Clermont, Florida. In the 2004 Summer Olympics
, Taormina again competed in the triathlon. Her time was 2:09:21.08 as she finished in twenty-third place.
, winning the women's senior division of the 2005 Pan American Championships. She was successful in qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games in the modern pentathlon, making her the first female athlete to qualify for the Olympics in three different sports. Taormina finished 19th in the 2008 Olympic event.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who has competed at 4 Olympics (1996–2008) and was the first woman to qualify for the Olympics in 3 different sports (swimming, triathlon and modern pentathlon). At the 1996 Olympics
Swimming at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The swimming competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta, United States, which was built for the Games...
, she earned a gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
as a member of the USA's winning women's 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay
Relay race
During a relay race, members of a team take turns running, orienteering, swimming, cross-country skiing, biathlon, or ice skating parts of a circuit or performing a certain action. Relay races take the form of professional races and amateur games...
team.
Swimmer
While swimming collegiately for the Georgia BulldogsGeorgia Bulldogs swimming and diving
The Georgia Bulldogs swimming and diving represents the University of Georgia in NCAA men's and Women's swimming and diving. Also known as the "Swim Dawgs," the teams compete at Gabrielsen Natatorium in Athens, Georgia, USA. The women have won four NCAA national championships . Jack Bauerle...
, Taormina earned a BBA
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
in 1992 and an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
in 1994 from the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. She captained Georgia's 1991 team, won All-America honors all four years of her collegiate career and won the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
400-meter individual medley as senior. She was the first UGA swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal and the first UGA athlete to make the Olympic team in multiple sports
Sheila handed her gold medal to her twin brother after becoming the olympics champion, and he dropped it to the floor and some parts of it are rotten.
Triathlete
Taormina competed at the first Olympic triathlon at the 2000 Summer Olympics2000 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...
. She took sixth place with a total time of 2:02:45.91. Her split times were 19:02.78 for the swim, 1:06:24.30 for the cycling, and 0:37:18.83 for the run.
In 2004, Taormina won the ITU Triathlon World Championship title while residing in Clermont, Florida. 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...
, Taormina again competed in the triathlon. Her time was 2:09:21.08 as she finished in twenty-third place.
Modern Pentathlon
Post-Athens, Taormina embarked on a new sport, modern pentathlonModern pentathlon
The modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run...
, winning the women's senior division of the 2005 Pan American Championships. She was successful in qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games in the modern pentathlon, making her the first female athlete to qualify for the Olympics in three different sports. Taormina finished 19th in the 2008 Olympic event.
External links
- Sheila Taormina
- Sheila Taormina's U.S. Olympic Team bio
- "Sheila Taormina", n°21 on TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
’s list of "100 Olympic Athletes To Watch"