 |
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| Pilar
PEÑA |
| Sport |
Water Polo |
| NOC |
Spain
|
| Gender | Women |
| Born | 04 Apr 1986
in Madrid, ESP |
| Height | 1.74 m |
| Weight | 61 kg |
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Sport Specific Information |
Club / Team |
CN Terrassa: Barcelona, ESP |
Name of coach |
Xavi Perez [club], ESP; Miguel Angel Oca [national], ESP |
Preferred position / style / stance / technique |
Wing |
Handedness |
Left |
Further Personal Information |
Languages |
English, Spanish |
General Interest |
Nicknames |
Piluka, Pili (as.com, 27 Jul 2019) |
Further Personal Information |
Occupation |
Athlete |
General Interest |
Awards and honours |
She was part of the Spanish national team that received an award from the Spanish Sports Press Association [AEPD] in recognition of their triumph at the 2020 European Championships in Budapest, Hungary. She was one of four players to collect the award on behalf of the team at the AEPD Gala in Teruel, Spain, in September 2021. (aepde.org, 20 Sep 2021; rfen.es, 20 Sep 2021)
Alongside her teammates in the Spanish national team, she received the Extraordinary Medal for Sports Merit from the Spanish Swimming Federation in recognition of the bronze medal they won at the 2018 European Championships in Barcelona, Spain. (rfen.es, 04 Oct 2018)
In 2014 she received the Silver Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit from the Spanish government. (csd.gob.es, 01 Dec 2014)
In 2013 she received the Gold Insignia from the city of Alcorcon, Spain, alongside her national team coach Miguel Angel Oca. (elconfidencial.com, 07 Aug 2013)
A swimming pool was named in her honour in Navalcan, Spain. A sports hall in Alcorcon, Spain, is named after her and coach Miguel Angel Oca. (as.com, 23 Oct 2017; elconfidencial.com, 07 Aug 2013) |
Sport Specific Information |
When and where did you begin this sport? |
She began focusing on water polo at age 18, after combining it with swimming in the early years of her sporting career. |
General Interest |
Other information |
STUDIES
She has bachelor's degrees in child education, psychology, and pedagogy, and has also trained as a yoga instructor in India. "You have to keep your mind busy. Sometimes you get so obsessed with sports but you need to keep on studying. I went [to India] alone. It was very intense. We started the day at 05:00 and kept going until 20:00. At the beginning everything was unknown, I didn't know anyone. I had to adapt to my classmates, teachers and the classes. During the second week I was not in the mood, because you start missing home. But then you get used to it, and in the end saying goodbye was sad." (as.com, 11 Jan 2020)
LEADER
She was named captain of the Spanish national team in 2016. (as.com, 27 Jul 2019) |
Hobbies |
Cooking, yoga. (as.com, 12 Jun 2020; mundodeportivo.com, 19 Dec 2020) |
Olympic Games |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2021 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2016 |
Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2012 |
London, ENG |
Team |
|
World Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 3 |
2024 |
Doha, QAT |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2023 |
Fukuoka, JPN |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2022 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2019 |
Gwangju, KOR |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2017 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 7 |
2015 |
Kazan, RUS |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2013 |
Barcelona, ESP |
Team |
|
| 11 |
2011 |
Shanghai, CHN |
Team |
|
| 8 |
2009 |
Rome, ITA |
Team |
|
| 7 |
2007 |
Melbourne, AUS |
Team |
|
| 11 |
2005 |
Montreal, CAN |
Team |
|
World Cup |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 3 |
2023 |
Long Beach, CA, USA |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2018 |
Surgut, RUS |
Team |
|
European Championship |
| Rank |
Year |
Venue |
Event |
Result |
| 2 |
2024 |
Eindhoven, NED |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2022 |
Split, CRO |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2020 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 3 |
2018 |
Barcelona, ESP |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2016 |
Belgrade, SRB |
Team |
|
| 1 |
2014 |
Budapest, HUN |
Team |
|
| 5 |
2012 |
Eindhoven, NED |
Team |
|
| 6 |
2010 |
Zagreb, CRO |
Team |
|
| 2 |
2008 |
Málaga, ESP |
Team |
|
| 4 |
2006 |
Belgrade, SRB |
Team |
|
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