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Perez, Yuliana
- 2002, 2003 USA Outdoor triple jump champion
- 2001 U.S. Outdoor runner-up
- Silver at the 1997 Junior Pan American Games for Cuba
- After her mother's death when she was 5, she moved to Cuba to live with her paternal grandmother; there she took up track
- Moved back to the United States under a loan from the Swiss Embassy after she refused to give up her U.S. citizenship for a spot on the Cuban Olympic Team
- Worked as a waitress in Tucson before meeting the track coach from Prima Community College
- Since joining the track team at Prima, Perez has won 5 Junior College National Championships and earned 8 Junior College All-American awards
- Studies theatre at Prima CC
- No. 1 goal in life is to make the Olympics
The people of Tucson have treated Perez like she was one of their own. She has three "new mothers" and leans on them for guidance and support. Service clubs help sponsor her trips for international competetion and a dentist in Tucson helps repair her teeth for free. She refers to Tucson as her hometown.
On her future: "I'm not going to stop until I get my dream. I'm going to train and work hard until I get there. My dream is going to the Olympics - one, two, three times."
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Height: 5'8
Born: 7/21/1981
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Sport: Track & Field
Event: Triple Jump
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