Sheila Mae Perez (born December 10, 1985) is a Filipino Olympic diver. Reuters describes her as "one of the best divers in Southeast Asia"."Fun and faith guide Philippine diver", Reuters, June 23, 2008
Perez was brought up in a poor family in Davao City."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"."Scrap metal diver eyes Olympic gold", Reuters, May 23, 2008
She represented her country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney,"Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya" , Sun Star, April 27, 2006 finishing 32nd out of 56."Fun and faith guide Philippine diver", Reuters, June 23, 2008 She qualified to take part in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, but was reportedly "unable to compete"."Fun and faith guide Philippine diver", Reuters, June 23, 2008 She represented the Philippines at the 2008 Summer Olympics at Beijing for the second time."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 the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, in the 3-metre springboard, synchronised 3-metre springboard and 1-metre springboard events,"Fun and faith guide Philippine diver", Reuters, June 23, 2008 becoming the first ever triple-gold medallist from the Philippines at the Games."Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya" , Sun Star, April 27, 2006"Perez turns pool into own playground", Manila Standard Today, December 2, 2005 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."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 by Cathy Garcia-Molina."Sheila Mae shares life struggle in Maalaala Mo Kaya" , Sun Star, April 27, 2006
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."Perez Guns for Olympic Berth" , Sun Star, January 4, 2008
References
External links "Scrap metal diver eyes Olympic gold", Reuters, May 23, 2008 (video report)
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