PEREIRA Yulen

Personal Information

Residence Las Rozas de Madrid, ESP

Occupation Athlete

Languages English, Spanish

Higher education Psychology - Catholic University of Murcia [UCAM]: Spain

License number 12071995000

Club

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Sport Specific Information

When and where did you begin this sport? He began fencing at age four in Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain.

Why this sport? His father was a fencer and gave Yulen a foam sword to play with as a child. He also played basketball, but he decided to focus on fencing at age 15 because he preferred taking part in an individual sport. "I thought that fencing would give me better results."

Club / Team Sala de Armas Valencia: Spain

Name of coach Manuel Pereira [father], ESP

Handedness Right

General Interest

Hobbies Listening to music. (yosoynoticia.es, 20 Oct 2020)

Most influential person in career His father. (yosoynoticia.es, 20 Oct 2020)

Hero / Idol Spanish fencer Jose Luis Abajo, his father Manuel Pereira. (yosoynoticia.es, 20 Oct 2020; as.com, 15 Feb 2019)

Injuries A wrist injury meant he had to withdraw from the 2023 World Cup event in Istanbul, Turkey. (lavanguardia.com, 22 May 2023)

Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs He has a haircut before each competition. (as.com, 15 Feb 2019)

Sporting philosophy / motto "If you work hard and never give up, in the end the results will come." (elmundo.es, 25 Jan 2015)

Awards and honours He received the 2020 Prize to the Sport Merit as the Most Outstanding Male Athlete in Valencia, Spain. (yosoynoticia.es, 16 Nov 2021)

Famous relatives His father Manuel represented Spain in fencing. He won gold in individual epee at the 1989 World Championships in Denver, CO, United States of America. He has also coached the Spanish fencing team. (SportsDeskOnline, 03 Jul 2015; 20minutos.es, 11 Apr 2013)

Ambitions To win a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (relevo.com, 23 Mar 2023)

Other information LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
His father Manuel Pereira was the first fencer representing Spain to win gold at the world championships, claiming victory in individual epee in 1989 in Denver, CO, United States of America. He has also served as a coach of the Spanish fencing team. "My father is an idol and an icon, both for me and for Spanish fencing. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be where I am. There are a lot of things in which we are alike, like the way we face the combat, in how we prepare an attack, or how we train together. But there are also things in which we are not, as I am very insistent and stubborn while my father is more rational. He understands more than I do. At home he is my father, but while we are at training he is Manuel. We have to be professionals. That is a key factor if we want to achieve big things." (yosoynoticia.es, 20 Oct 2020)

HERITAGE
He has a Spanish father and a Cuban mother. (as.com, 10 Apr 2015)

TV SHOW
In 2022 he took part in the Spanish reality TV show 'Supervivientes' [Survivors]. "I think it was a very positive step. I took some time off and I moved a little behind in the rankings but I have gained momentum. I came back with a lot of desire. I think that there are times in which you need to disconnect so you can reconnect. I'm thankful for the chance that TV gave me to be more in the public eye so people could know more about myself and fencing. I think it's a positive thing for me and the sport." (relevo.com, 23 Mar 2023; diariodenavarra.es, 07 Jun 2022)