Paola PÉREZ
Sport	Open Water Swimming
NOC	Venezuela
Gender	Women
Born	05 Apr 1991 in San Cristóbal, VEN

Human Interest

Further Personal Information
Higher education	Accounting - Catholic University of Tachira: Venezuela
General Interest
Famous relatives	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)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?	Her parents encouraged her to take up the sport.
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began swimming at age three.
Further Personal Information
Languages	Spanish
Occupation	Athlete, Coach
General Interest
Awards and honours	In 2016 she received the Tachira State Order for Sports Merit in Venezuela. (tachira.gob.ve, 06 Jan 2017)
Further Personal Information
Residence	Santiago, CHI
General Interest
Other information	MENTAL HEALTH She has spoken of her experiences with depression and anxiety during her career, particularly following the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, where she suffered from hypothermia. "After Lima I did not want to keep on going. I even thought about committing suicide. But now [speaking in 2021] I feel happy having overcome those dark moments. It was the darkest period in my life and I am not intending to go back there. But it is a reality that exists not only within athletes but in the whole world. Depression and anxiety do exist and everyone deals with it in their own way. I discovered, thanks to support and psychological help, that I was lacking the self-respect to decide what I deserve, what I want and what I need. I cry because it is unavoidable and because nobody else knows what I experienced. And I also cry because I am proud of myself, of who I am now, and what awaits for me in the future." (elnacional.com, 05 Aug 2021) 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 meet 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 necessary to take a break and rest, and start again with encouragement." (aporrea.org, 05 Aug 2018; marcavinotinto.com, 26 Mar 2018)
Ambitions	To compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (Facebook profile, 15 Nov 2021)
Further Personal Information
Family	Partner Hugo

Competition Highlights

Pan American Games
Rank	Year	Venue	Event	Result
7	2023	Santiago, CHI	4 x 200m Freestyle Relay	8:30.99
World Championships
Rank	Year	Venue	Event	Result
32	2024	Doha, QAT	5km	59:14.9
20	2024	Doha, QAT	6km - Team Relay	1:10:45.5
31	2023	Fukuoka, JPN	10km	2:07:11.7
42	2019	Gwangju, KOR	10km	2:01:29.7
39	2019	Gwangju, KOR	5km	1:01:39.4
19	2019	Gwangju, KOR	5km - Team Relay	59:01.0
39	2015	Kazan, RUS	10km	2:05:31.5
16	2015	Kazan, RUS	5km - Team Time Trial	58:39.3
27	2013	Barcelona, ESP	5km	57:51.5
13	2013	Barcelona, ESP	25km	5:22:40.1
32	2013	Barcelona, ESP	10km	2:00:36.8
World Series
Rank	Year	Venue	Event	Result
47	2022		10km
23	2022	Paris, FRA	10km	2:05:58.18
4	2016	Viedma, ARG	10km	2:06:23
11	2015	San Miguel de Cozumel, MEX	10km	1:48:28.00
31	2013	San Miguel de Cozumel, MEX	10km	2:17:49.40