Teresa Perales

TERESA PERALES

Swimming
Teresa Perales
"Dare to win - and to fight every day to become that little bit better."
#TeamSunrise

LOSING VS. STOP WINNING

For me, sports is an unbeatable teaching of values. When I started to walk I practised karate, horse riding... a little of everything, although without competing. It has made me much stronger as a person and it has helped me to understand the big difference between losing and stop winning.

Losing is to give up or not to dare to try, while to stop winning is just not getting (momentarily) what you pursue. But it has also taught me to dare to win and fight every day to be a little better. Never settle and always strive for excellence in what I do. Somehow, sport has taught me to live life to its fullest.

I started swimming with a life jacket because I had never known how to swim well, much less without mobility or no feeling in my legs. Almost from the beginning, I saw that moving through the water was good for me. They put a timer in front of me and I checked that the timer stopped faster and faster. 

#TeamSunrise

A DIAMOND TO BE POLISHED

At 19 I suffered a neuropathy that affected my lower extremities and my arms a little bit, and since then I'm using a wheelchair. In my new situation, one day I went into a pool on summer vacation. That first time I had to do it with a life jacket. However, the feeling was very good and I decided I wanted to learn to swim.

Coming back to my city, Zaragoza, I signed up for a swimming club. One of the trainers saw me in the water and told me "you are a diamond in the rough that we have to polish." I started training and very soon I started competing. Now I am on my way to my sixth Paralympic Games.

I graduated in Physiotherapy, although I wanted to be a doctor to go on missions and help people around the world. In my vocation of service, I also went through politics in the Courts of Aragon and in the Government of Aragon. Now I combine sports with motivational talks and my collaboration with different foundations and NGOs.

"Anything is possible when you commit to seriously achieving it."
My sports wheelchair
"I love the fact that I can attach the EMPULSE Attitude Hybrid handbike to my wheelchair with just a small accessory. I use it mainly for cardio - it's complimentary to my pool training and it has a lot of autonomy."
Lees meer
My everyday wheelchair
"My QUICKIE Nitrum is also fitted with a J3 Carbon Back support and JAY Xtreme Active cushion. It's extremely lightweight, maneuverable and also very tough!! I also love its aesthetics."

Road to Glory

2021
Paralympic Games (Tokyo)

Bronze - 50m Backstroke

2019
World Para Swimming Championships - London

Gold - 50m Backstoke

Bronze - 4 x 100 Medley Relay (34 points)

2017
2017 World Para Swimming Championships - Mexico

Silver - 50m Backstroke

Silver - 100m Freestyle

2016
Paralympic Games (Rio)
Gold - 50m Backstroke
Silver - 200m Freestyle Swimming
Silver - 100m Freestyle
Silver - Individual Medley
4th Place - 50m Freestyle
5th Place - 50m Butterfly
2012
2012 Paralympic Games
Silver - 50 m Freestyle S5
Bronze - 200 m Individual Medley SM5
Silver - 200 m Freestyle S5
Bronze - 100 m Breaststroke SB4
Silver - 50 m Butterfly S5
Gold - 100 m Freestyle S5
2008
2008 Paralympic Games
Gold - 50 m Freestyle S5
Gold - 100 m Freestyle S5
Gold - 200 m Freestyle S5
Silver - 50 m Backstroke S5
Bronze - 100 m Breaststroke SB4
2006
2006 World Championships
Bronze - 50 m Backstroke S5
Bronze - 50 m Backstroke S5
Silver - 50 m Butterfly S5
2004
2004 Paralympic Games
Bronze - 50 m Freestyle S5
Gold - 100 m Freestyle S5
Bronze - 50 m Backstroke S5
Bronze - 100 m Breaststroke SB4
Gold - 50 m Butterfly S5
Silver - 4 x 50 m Medley Relay 20 Points
2002
2002 World Championships
Silver - 50 m Freestyle S5
Silver - 100 m Freestyle S5
Bronze - 200 m Freestyle S5
Bronze - 50 m Backstroke S5
Silver - 100 m Breaststroke SB4
Silver - 50 m Butterfly S5
Silver - 200 m Individual Medley SM5
2000
2000 Paralympic Games
Bronze - 50 m Freestyle S5
Bronze - 100 m Freestyle S5
Bronze - 200 m Freestyle S5
Bronze - 50 m Backstroke S5
Silver - 50 m Butterfly S5
1998
1998 World Championships
Bronze - 50 m Freestyle S6