TERESA PERALES

Natation

"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."

Mon fauteuil de sport

Empulse Attitude Hybrid

"I love the fact that I can attach the QUICKIE 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."

My everyday wheelchair

QUICKIE Nitrum / Nitrum Pro

"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."

CHEMIN DE LA GLOIRE

2019

World Para Swimming Championships - London

Or - 50m dos

Bronze - Relais 4 x 100 Quatre nages (34 points)

2017

2017 World Para Swimming Championships - Mexico

Argent - 50m dos

Argent - 100m nage libre

2016

Paralympic Games (Rio)

Or - 50m dos
Argent - 200m nage libre
Argent - 100 m nage libre
Argent - Médaille quatre nages
4ème place - 50m nage libre
5ème place - 50m papillon

2012

2012 Paralympic Games

Argent - 50 m nage libre S5
Bronze - 200 m quatre nages individuelles SM5
Argent - 200 m nage libre S5
Bronze - 100 m brasse SB4
Argent - 50 m Papillon S5
Or - 100 m nage libre S5

2008

2008 Paralympic Games

Or - 50 m nage libre S5
Or - 100 m nage libre S5
Or - 200 m nage libre S5
Argent - 50 m dos S5
Bronze - 100 m brasse SB4

2006

2006 World Championships

Bronze - 50 m dos S5
Bronze - 50 m dos S5
Argent - 50 m Papillon S5

2004

2004 Paralympic Games

Bronze - 50 m nage libre S5
Or - 100 m nage libre S5
Bronze - 50 m dos S5
Bronze - 100 m brasse SB4
Or - 50 m Papillon S5
Argent - 4 x 50 m relais quatre nages 20 points

2002

2002 World Championships

Argent - 50 m nage libre S5
Argent - 100 m nage libre S5
Bronze - 200 m nage libre S5
Bronze - 50 m dos S5
Argent - 100 m brasse SB4
Argent - 50 m Papillon S5
Argent - 200 m quatre nages individuelles SM5

2000

2000 Paralympic Games

Bronze - 50 m nage libre S5
Bronze - 100 m nage libre S5
Bronze - 200 m nage libre S5
Bronze - 50 m dos S5
Argent - 50 m Papillon S5

1998

1998 World Championships

Bronze - 50 m nage libre S6