Sheila Taormina (born March 18, 1969 in Livonia, Michigan) is an American world-class athlete who competes in triathlon and swimming. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, Taormina earned a gold medal as a member of the winning women's 4x200 meter freestyle relay team. She qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in the modern pentathlon.
For the 2008 Olympics, Sheila became the first person to qualify and compete in 3 different sports at the Olympics. For the record, Carl Schuhmann of Germany competed in wrestling, gymnastics and track and field in 1896, before national qualification was required.
After her 1996 gold medal in swimming, Sheila became a triathlete, won a world championship, and then competed in triathlon at both the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and 2004 Olympics in Athens. For 2008, she learned three new skills (pistol shooting, fencing, and equestrian) and qualified as the top American Olympian in modern pentathlon.
Modern pentathlon is one of the oldest events in the modern Olympic era. The event is designed to simulate the skills required by a cavalryman caught behind enemy lines - shooting, fencing, swimming, running, and riding an unfamiliar horse. George Patton participated in the first Olympic modern pentathlon competition in 1912.
Sheila was the celebrity guest runner at the 2007 Burns Park Run and frequently acts as a motivational speaker or coach for both youth and adult activities.
In the news
- Taormina and Sell-Making History and Making Strides, Great Lakes Fitness, Peggy Harron, August 2008
