Abel Sanchez
2000 Olympic Games
Sydney, Australia
Biography
My name is Abel Seth Sanchez I was born in Lansing, Michigan. My hometown
is Holland, Michigan. I began diving at the age of sixteen. Up until then
I had played soccer from the day I could walk. I was fortunate enough to
excel at both sports and when I graduated from high school I was offered
scholarships for both diving and soccer. I chose to go to the University
of Michigan on a scholarship for diving. I attended the U of M for five
years where I currently have a BA degree in Communications and where I
am three classes shy of a BFA degree in Art. While diving for Michigan
I was a three-time conference recipient of the All-Big Ten award, two silver
medals and a fourth and fifth place finish at the Big Ten Conference Championships.
I was awarded three-time All-American, fourth, fifth and seventh place
finishing at the NCAA Championships. I was inducted into an honor society
comprised of the top twenty-five leaders throughout the campus at the University
of Michigan. After I graduated from the University of Michigan I moved
to The Woodlands Texas and trained with Kenny Armstrong. I lived there
for one year until I moved to Southern California. I trained in Irvine
and was coached by Janet Ely-Lagourge for two years. During those two years
I met my fiancée Pamela Yugar. After those two years my coach retired,
bringing me to Orlando. I now train here with my coach Jay Lerew. While
here in Orlando I decided to act on my dual citizenship and represent my
fathers home country of Peru. My father is no longer with us and I’m sure
he would be proud to see me carrying the Peruvian flag draped across my
shoulder. I will carry it proudly and do my best at representing Peru.
By representing Peru I gave up the option to earn a spot at the US Olympic
Trials. My most recent achievement came in Mar Del Plata Argentina representing
Peru at the South American Championships were I earned three silver medals.
I was told the medals I won were the first medals in the history of Peru
for diving. I find this an honor and pray that through all these accomplishments
everyone contributing finds the thrill and excitement that comes with it.
The first medal at the South American Championships came on the three-meter
springboard. The second one came on the one-meter springboard. And the
last silver medal came on platform. With these achievements and with the
marks I scored, I qualified to participate in the 2000 Olympic Games in
Sydney Australia.
Facts
Fourth place at Big Ten Conference
Fifth place at Big Ten Conference
Silver Medal at Big Ten Conference
Silver Medal at Big Ten Conference
3-time All-Big Ten Conference
Fourth place at NCAA Championships
Fifth place at NCAA Championships
Seventh place at NCAA Championships
3-time All-American
Tenth place at NCAA Championships
Honorable Mention All-American
Inducted into an Honor Society of Leadership-Michiguama
2-time finalist at US Diving Nationals
4-time Woodlands Diving National Team
4-time L’Equipe National Diving Team
4-time Orlando Diving National Team
3 Silver Medals at the South American Championships
2000 Olympian 3-meter and platform