Paula Barila Bolopa, Date of Birth, Place of Birth
TweetPaula Barila Bolopa
Footballer and swimmer
Date of Birth: 12-Oct-1979
Place of Birth: Baney, Equatorial Guinea
Profession: association football player
Nationality: Equatorial Guinea
Zodiac Sign: Libra 
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About Paula Barila Bolopa
- Paula Barila Bolopa (born 12 October 1979), nicknamed 'The Crawler', is a retired Equatoguinean football player and swimmer.
- She was one of two Equatorial Guinean swimmers to compete at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the other being Eric Moussambani. Originally a footballer, who played for women's first division side E Waiso Ipola, she was submitted to a swimming trials to participate at the 2000 Olympic Games and was selected after a month and a half of training.Following Moussambani's struggling but courageous performance in the men's 100 metres freestyle event, the media turned their attention to his female compatriot.
- According to The Telegraph, "the spectator gallery was almost full as the news spread that a female Eric was making an appearance." A correspondent for The Times reported: "Paula Barila Bolopa, still dripping wet from her swim, was under siege.
- Tape recorders were being thrust in her face and an interpreter was translating her comments from Spanish for American television stations.
- Somebody passed her a mobile phone so she could talk live to a radio presenter in Madrid and when she was asked whether she had signed any autographs since fame embraced her, she furrowed her brow in indignation.
- "Muchos," she said.
- She and Celebrity had quickly become fast friends."Barila Bolopa competed in the women's 50 metres freestyle, and finished last in her heat with a time of 01:03.97, which was double the second-worst time, and reportedly the slowest time in Olympic history for that event.
- She received loud support and encouragement from spectators.Barila Bolopa gained entry to the Olympics without meeting the minimum qualification requirements via a wildcard draw designed to encourage participation by developing countries without expensive training facilities.
- Equatorial Guinea has only two pools, neither of them Olympic-sized, and she had never swum in a 50-metre pool before.
- After the race, she commented: "It's the first time I've swum 50 metres.
- It was further than I thought.
- I was very tired."The BBC commented: "Bolopa and Moussambani have become two of the stars of the Sydney Olympics much like Eddie "the Eagle" Edwards became a hero at the 1988 Calgary Olympics for his brave but laughable attempts at ski-jumping." The Telegraph likewise commented that Barila had "recapture[d] the spirit of Eddie the Eagle".
- The Agence France-Presse reported that she had "gained Olympic hero status", and commented: "She brought out the spectators' affection for a courageous, have-a-go hero who dared to compete knowing she would probably be the worst-ever Olympian in that event."Barila worked as a supermarket cashier at the time of the Games.
Read more at Wikipedia