Teresa Perales Fernández (born on 29 December 1975) is an S5, SB4, SM5 type Spanish swimmer, political person and professional speaker who finished in the top three 22 times in the Paralympic Games, with six of her top three finishes happening at the 2012 London Games. She has the most top three finishes at the Paralympics out of any person from Spain.

In 1995, at the age of nineteen, Perales was diagnosed with neuropathy and lost the use of her legs in three months. After the 2000 Paralympics Games, she earned a Diploma in Physiotherapy and married Mariano Menor. She had a baby (named Mariano Menor Jr) with him after the 2008 Games. In addition to swimming, Perales has been a politician, teacher, business person and professional talker. As an Aragonese Party (PAR) political person, she was in office from 2003 to 2007. After she stopped being a political person, she co-wrote an autobiography with her husband. She has no plans to return to office but was on the 2011 ballot for PAR as a member of the Congreso de los Diputados in a symbolic gesture. Perales supports organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Fundación Carlos Sanz and Fundación Vicente Ferrer.

Starting swimming at the age of 19, she joined the Aragon-based disability sport club CAI CDM when she was 20 years old. When she was 21 years old, in 1997, she competed in her first Spanish championships, and she finished in the top three several times. In 1998, she first competed for Spain at the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) Swimming World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand and finished number three in one race. She competed in the 1999 European Championship, 2000 Summer Paralympics, 2001 European Championships, 2002 IPC World Championship, 2004 Summer Paralympics, 2006 IPC World Swimming Championship, and 2008 Summer Paralympics. She stopped swimming after the 2008 Games and gave birth to her son. She started swimming again in 2011 for the European Championship and then competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics. She finished in the top three in every Paralympics, European Championship, and World Championship in which she raced.

Because of her top three finishes in so many races, Perales was awarded the Gran Cruz del Mérito Deportivo and the Medalla de Oro de la Real Orden del Mérito Deportivo. She has earned several other awards including the Woman of the Year by the Spanish women's magazine Mujer hoy.

Personal 
Perales was born in Zaragoza on 29 December 1975.

Swimming 

Perales is a S5, SB4, SM5 type swimmer and is a member of CD Asser: Spain swimming club. She is the has the most first three finishes of any Paralympic sportperson from Spain.

World Championships
Perales first competed for Spain not in Spain at the IPC World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1998.  She finished number three in the 50 m freestyle event.  She finished in fourth-place in the 4 x 50 m freestyle 20 points relay, 4 x 50 m medley 20 points relay and the 400 m freestyle.  She finished in seventh-place in the 100 m libre event and finished eighth in the 50 m butterfly.

Results

Paralympics 
Perales competed at four Paralympic Games: the 2000 Summer Paralympics, 2004 Summer Paralympics, 2008 Summer Paralympics and 2012 Summer Paralympics. She had her first top three finish at the 2000 Summer Paralympics.

At the 2004 Athens Games, when she was 27 years old, Perales twice finished first. Her two first place finishes were the first time she ever had first place finishes at the Paralympic Games.

Results

Awards and recognition
Perales was given the Gran Cruz del Mérito Deportivo.

Notes

References

Other websites

 Teresa Perales Official Site

1975 births
Living people
Spanish swimmers
Spanish Paralympic gold medalists
Spanish Paralympic bronze medalists
Spanish Paralympic silver medalists
People from Zaragoza
Sportspeople with disabilities, type S5