Silvia Poll Ahrens
Encyclopedia
Sylvia Poll Ahrens in Managua, Nicaragua
) is an Olympic and National Record holding swimmer from Costa Rica
. At the 1988 Olympics
, she won Costa Rica's first Olympic medal, when she garnered the silver in the women's 200 free. As of 2009, she and her younger sister Claudia
are Costa Rica's only Olympic medalists. Sylvia also swam for Costa Rica at the 1992 Summer Olympics
.
She also won a total number of 8 medals at the 1987 Pan American Games
; and 2 of her times from those Games still stand as Costa Rican Records in 2009 (100 free and 100 back).
Poll was born in Managua,Nicaragua. Her parents were Germans and they settled in Nicaragua where Sylvia and her younger sister Claudia were born. After the 1972 Nicaragua earthquake 1972 earthquake of Managua and rising political tensions, Sylvia's parents decided to move south to Costa Rica.
Sylvia Poll is a famous backstroker and freestyle swimmer for Costa Rica
, who won the silver medal in the Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics Women's 200 meter freestyle at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul, South Korea. Her silver medal was the first medal ever for a Costa Rican athlete.
At the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games
she set the Games Records in the women's 200 and 400 frees (2:02.80 and 4:17.98). Both records would last 20 years, until her sister Claudia bettered the times at the 2006 Games
. Also at the '86 CACs, Silvia set the Games Record in the 100 & 200 backs (1:04.43, 2:19.32) that also stood until 2006.
Silvio Poll is now a member of the ‘Champions for Peace’ club, a group of 54 famous elite athletes committed to serving peace in the world through sport, created by Peace and Sport
, a Monaco
-based international organization.
Managua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
) is an Olympic and National Record holding swimmer from Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. At the 1988 Olympics
Costa Rica at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Costa Rica competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Silvia Poll won the nation's first ever Olympic medal.- Silver:* Silvia Poll — Swimming, Women's 200 metre Freestyle-Athletics:Men's Marathon...
, she won Costa Rica's first Olympic medal, when she garnered the silver in the women's 200 free. As of 2009, she and her younger sister Claudia
Claudia Poll
Claudia Maria Poll Ahrens is an Olympic gold-medalist and National Record holding swimmer from Costa Rica. To date , she is Costa Rica's only gold-medalist, having won the country first gold Olympic medal at the 1996 Olympics in the 200 meter freestyle. Her sister, Silvia, won Costa Rica's first...
are Costa Rica's only Olympic medalists. Sylvia also swam for Costa Rica at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Costa Rica at the 1992 Summer Olympics
-Archery:In its third archery competition at the Olympics, and first since 1980, Costa Rica entered a female archer for the first time. She did not advance to the elimination rounds.Women's Individual Competition:* Patricia Obregon...
.
She also won a total number of 8 medals at the 1987 Pan American Games
Swimming at the 1987 Pan American Games
The swimming competition at the 1987 Pan American Games took place from August to August 15 at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.-Men’s events:-Women’s events:-References:***...
; and 2 of her times from those Games still stand as Costa Rican Records in 2009 (100 free and 100 back).
Poll was born in Managua,Nicaragua. Her parents were Germans and they settled in Nicaragua where Sylvia and her younger sister Claudia were born. After the 1972 Nicaragua earthquake 1972 earthquake of Managua and rising political tensions, Sylvia's parents decided to move south to Costa Rica.
Sylvia Poll is a famous backstroker and freestyle swimmer for Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, who won the silver medal in the Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics Women's 200 meter freestyle at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul, South Korea. Her silver medal was the first medal ever for a Costa Rican athlete.
At the 1986 Central American and Caribbean Games
1986 Central American and Caribbean Games
The 15th Central American and Caribbean Games were held in Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic from June 24 to July 5, 1986, and included 2.963 athletes from 25 nations.-References:...
she set the Games Records in the women's 200 and 400 frees (2:02.80 and 4:17.98). Both records would last 20 years, until her sister Claudia bettered the times at the 2006 Games
Swimming at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games
The swimming events at the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Games occurred July 17–22, 2006 at S.U. Pedro de Heredia Aquatic Complex in Cartagena, Colombia.-Participating countries:...
. Also at the '86 CACs, Silvia set the Games Record in the 100 & 200 backs (1:04.43, 2:19.32) that also stood until 2006.
Silvio Poll is now a member of the ‘Champions for Peace’ club, a group of 54 famous elite athletes committed to serving peace in the world through sport, created by Peace and Sport
Peace and Sport
Peace and Sport, "L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport” is a neutral and apolitical international initiative based in the Principality of Monaco and placed under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco....
, a Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
-based international organization.