Perales receives prestigious sport award in Spain

Perales won six medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, including one gold, three silver and two bronze medals, bringing her Paralympic Games medal count to a total of 22.

Paralympic swimmer Teresa Perales received the Premio AS del Deporte 2012, one of Spain’s most renowned sport awards, at a gala taking place in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday (11 December).

At the sixth edition of the Premio AS, Perales was joined, amongst others, by famous football player Iker Casillas, and Vicente del Bosque, coach of the Spanish football national team.

Perales won six medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, including one gold, three silver and two bronze medals, bringing her Paralympic Games medal count to a total of 22. Born in 1975, Perales started swimming at age 19, after developing neuropathy. Her first international appearance was in 1998 at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, where she won a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle.

The Premios AS del Deporte are awarded to the best Spanish athletes each year, selected by the editors of AS, one of Spain’s biggest sports newspapers. All winners received an iron heart designed by Xavier Mascaró.

In addition to the Premio AS, on 2 November, Perales also received the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit, the highest sport award given by the Spanish government.

Perales is the first Paralympic athlete to ever have received this prestigious honour.

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Teresa Perales