Modern Penthalete Sheila Taormina

The Summer Olympic Games are nothing new to Sheila Taormina. She won a gold medal in 1996 as a member of the U.S. women's 4x200m freestyle relay team, and then competed at the 2000 and 2004 Games as a triathlete. In Beijing, the 39-year-old will become the first female athlete to compete at the Olympics in three different sports.

Olympic History
Taormina swam the third leg for the 4x200m freestyle relay gold-medal winning team at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Soon after, she made the switch to triathlon and in 2000, she won the U.S. Olympic Triathlon Trials. She placed sixth in Sydney. In 2004, she won the women's triathlon world championship, but fell victim to muscle cramps at the Athens Games and came in a disappointing 23rd place. In 2005, Taormina won her first pentathlon competition, the 2005 Pan Am/South American Championships.

Chances in Beijing
Currently ranked ninth overall in the World Cup standings after competitions this spring, Taormina hopes to make a run at a medal. With her strong background in swimming and running, she is always a candidate to land on a medal stand

Her Stats:
Born: March 18, 1969, Livonia, MI
Hometown: Livonia, MI
Residence: Livonia, MI
Ht: / Wt: 5'3" / 115 lbs
Olympics: 2004, 2000, 1996