Friday, December 14, 2007 Perez: Davao's wonder girl By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
WHEN Sheila Mae Perez showcased a virtuoso performance in winning the 3-meter springboard in the 24th Thailand Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) Tuesday, it capped a successful comeback from a bothersome back injury that the wonder girl from Davao City endured last year.
With another foray of graceful and amazing dives, Perez is a gold medal winner in the biennial meet once more.
And she isn't about to stop.
After ruling the 3-meter springboard, Perez is gunning for another gold when the 1-meter springboard gets underway Thursday night at the Nakkon Ratchasima Aquatics Centre.
A triple-gold medalist in the 2005 SEAG in Manila, the 22-year-old Perez attempts to come up with another impressive showing and display her exceptional skills this time around in Thailand.
Just months ago, Perez never thought of flashing the skills she displayed in Manila two years ago because of a nagging back injury.
Perez had to undergo rehabilitation on her back for two months this year after missing the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar last year.
In fact, Perez, who hails from Sasa but whose family now resides in Tibungco, was anxious about defending her titles in Thailand.
In one of her daily training routines at the Trace Aquatics Center in Los Ba¤os, Laguna, early this year, Perez suffered an accident that further jeopardized her already strained back.
The Davao diver, however, recovered from the injury and flashed another mighty performance in the regional meet.
Perez, a Sydney Olympian, amassed a total of 315.75 points after five dives in the event to nose out her rivals from Malaysia and Vietnam.
Perez also has the edge in the one-meter springboard competition. The event was introduced in the 2005 SEAG and Perez also topped her class.
