{{Short description|Irish-American pole vaulter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox sportsperson | image = Tori Pena.jpg | image_size = | caption = Pena on 28 April 2012 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1987|7|30}} | birth_place = Los Alamitos, California | height ={{height|ft=5|in=6|out=cm}} | weight ={{convert|126|lb|kg|abbr=on}} | country = {{IRL}} | sport =Athletics | event =Pole Vault | coach = | highestranking = | pb = 4.60 m (2013) | medaltemplates = | updated = }} '''Victoria "Tori" Peña'''<ref name="it10jul">{{Cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0710/1224274421154.html|title=Ireland's newest recruit vaults into action|last=O'Riordan|first=Ian|date=10 July 2010|work=The Irish Times|accessdate=3 August 2010|archive-date=21 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021184519/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0710/1224274421154.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> (born 30 July 1987<ref name="ucla">{{Cite web|url=http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-track/mtt/pena_tori00.html|title=Player Bio: Tori Pena|work=UCLA Bruins|publisher=UCLA|accessdate=3 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211005235/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-track/mtt/pena_tori00.html|archive-date=11 December 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>) is a pole vaulter with dual American and Irish citizenship who competes for Ireland in IAAF competition.<ref name="it10jul"/><ref name="brn10jul">{{Cite news|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/pena-vaults-to-irish-record-win-464992.html|title=Pena vaults to Irish record win|date=10 July 2010|publisher=BreakingNews.ie|accessdate=3 August 2010}}</ref>
==Early life== Peña was born in Los Alamitos, California.<ref name="ucla"/> Her father's family are of Mexican extraction, and her maternal grandmother Angela McCoy (née Coyle) was born in Derry.<ref name="it10jul"/> Peña lives in Huntington Beach, where she graduated from Edison High School.<ref name="ucla"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Jeff|title=Her Irish Is Up|newspaper=Huntington Beach Wave/Orange County Register|date=29 March 2012}}</ref> In 2003, she competed in Killarney at the World Irish Dancing Championships.<ref name="it10jul"/> She earned a degree in International Development Studies<ref name="it10jul"/> from the University of California, Los Angeles, and competed for the UCLA Bruins,<ref name="ucla"/> although frequently hampered by injuries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-track/spec-rel/071410aaa.html|title=Pena Breaks Irish National Pole Vault Record|date=14 July 2010|work=UCLA Bruins|publisher=UCLA|accessdate=3 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405154933/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-track/spec-rel/071410aaa.html|archive-date=5 April 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Her Irish grandmother made her eligible for Irish citizenship,<ref name="brn10jul"/> and in June 2010 she acquired dual citizenship, declared her intention to compete for Ireland, and registered with Finn Valley Athletic Club in County Donegal.<ref name="it10jul"/>
==Irish career== Peña's personal best of {{convert|4.35|m|ftin|frac=2}} was set shortly before she had acquired Irish citizenship, but was sufficient to qualify for the pole vault at the European Athletics championships in Barcelona.<ref name="it10jul"/> In July 2010 won the Irish national championships at Morton Stadium with an Irish record of {{convert|4.15|m|ftin|frac=2}},<ref name="brn10jul"/> which she equalled in Barcelona.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportresult.com/sports/la/ajax/user_files/2010/barcelona/pdf/re1820061.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606171840/http://www.sportresult.com/sports/la/ajax/user_files/2010/barcelona/pdf/re1820061.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 June 2012 |title=Pole Vault Women: Results; Qualification|work=European Athletics Championships |publisher=European Athletics|accessdate=3 August 2010}}</ref> At the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships she set an Irish indoor record of {{convert|4.35|m|ftin|frac=2}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportresult.com/sports/la/ajax/user_files/2011/paris/pdf/re3820061.pdf|title=Pole Vault Women|work=European Athletics Indoor Championships Paris, France 4–6 March 2011 Results|publisher=European Athletics|accessdate=6 August 2012|archive-date=16 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716122655/http://www.sportresult.com/sports/la/ajax/user_files/2011/paris/pdf/re3820061.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> which she increased to {{convert|4.45|m|ftin|frac=2}} in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pena Sets New Irish Pole Vault Record|url=http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=22946|publisher=AI|date=22 January 2012|accessdate=23 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427115435/http://www.athleticsireland.ie/content/?p=22946|archive-date=27 April 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pole Vault Results|url=http://www.ucsspirit.com/about/current-results.cfm/type/FB1A6DF6-C61C-4D45-B4C2-12B4AFD8556C/level/033731D7-5056-B828-C7D312B338059A08|publisher=ucsspirit.com|date=20 January 2012|accessdate=23 January 2012|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002130928/http://www.ucsspirit.com/about/current-results.cfm/type/FB1A6DF6-C61C-4D45-B4C2-12B4AFD8556C/level/033731D7-5056-B828-C7D312B338059A08|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the San Diego Triton Invitational on 27 April 2012 she set an outdoor Irish record of {{convert|4.52|m|ftin|frac=2}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pole Vault Results|url=http://www.directathletics.com/results/track/24079_1636637.html|publisher=directathletics.com|date=28 April 2012|accessdate=1 May 2012}}</ref> This qualified her for the 2012 Olympics, in the qualifying round of which she failed at the opening height of {{convert|4.10|m|ftin|frac=2}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.com/athletics/event/women-pole-vault/phase=atw072900/doc=standing.html#a1050817|title=Women's Pole Vault Qualifying|work=2012 Summer Olympics|accessdate=6 August 2012|archive-date=30 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530195652/http://www.london2012.com/athletics/event/women-pole-vault/phase=atw072900/doc=standing.html#a1050817|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{World Athletics||name=Tori Pena}} * [https://www.instagram.com/toripena Tori Pena profile] on Instagram
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pena, Tori}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American women pole vaulters Category:American people of Mexican descent Category:Sportspeople of Mexican descent Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Naturalised citizens of Ireland Category:Olympic athletes for Ireland Category:Sportspeople from Huntington Beach, California Category:Track and field athletes from Orange County, California Category:Athletes from County Donegal Category:UCLA Bruins women's track and field athletes Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Ireland Category:Edison High School (Huntington Beach, California) alumni Category:21st-century American sportswomen