PEREZ Paola

5 Apr 1991
30
Female
SAN CRISTOBAL
 
Venezuela
SANTIAGO
 
Chile

Events and Medals

Discipline Event Rank Medal
OWS Marathon Swimming Women's 10km 20

Schedule

Change
Start Time Location Event Status
Odaiba Marine Park
Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

:
Olympic Games
YearLocation10km
2016Rio de Janeiro, BRA20

World Championships
YearLocation5km10km25km5km - TTT X5km - TR X
2019Gwangju, KOR3942--19
2015Kazan, RUS-39-16-
2013Barcelona, ESP273213--

Pan American Games
YearLocation10km
2019Lima, PER11

South American Championships
YearLocation10km
2018Cochabamba, BOL6


Legend
X - Mixed, DNF - Did Not Finish, DNS - Did Not Start, DSQ - Disqualified, TR - Team Relay, TTT - Team Time Trial
:
Athlete, Coach
:
Accounting - Catholic University of Tachira, Venezuela
:
Partner Hugo
:
Spanish
:
Her sister Silvia is a former swimmer who represented Venezuela between 1999 and 2007. Her mother Flora represented Venezuela in artistic swimming. (Silvia Perez Twitter profile, 17 Jul 2015; lanaciondeportes.com, 17 Dec 2014)
:
She began swimming at age three. (lanaciondeportes.com, 17 Dec 2014)
:
Her parents encouraged her to take up the sport. (lanaciondeportes.com, 17 Dec 2014)
:
To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (eldiario.com, 19 Jun 2021)
:
In 2016 she received the Tachira State Order for Sports Merit in Venezuela. (tachira.gob.ve, 06 Jan 2017)

General Interest

General
HYPOTHERMIA
She battled hypothermia in the 10km event at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, where she finished in 11th place. She had asked Venezuelan sporting authorities for a neoprene suit, but the one she was given did not pass International Swimming Federation [FINA] regulations, which resulted in her competing in a regular suit not designed for colder waters. "I tried to stay strong. I love the sport and I did not come here to leave without competing. I made it until the sixth lap when I started battling hypothermia. It was cold and I couldn't feel my arms. I started losing consciousness, and I was swimming in a zigzag. I had a headache and nausea. I was only thinking about finishing." (Twitter profile, 09 Aug 2019; aporrea.org, 05 Aug 2018; analitica.com, 05 Aug 2019)

BREAK
She took a break from the sport following the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She returned to the sport in 2018 and relocated to Santiago, Chile, to work under coach Juan Carlos Tenorio. "It was not a retirement but I took a rest. I cleared my mind and relaxed. I think it is also necessary to take a break and rest, and start again with encouragement." (aporrea.org, 05 Aug 2018; marcavinotinto.com, 26 Mar 2018)

Legend
:
Gold Medal Event
:
Silver Medal Event
:
Bronze Medal Event
Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos