Theresa was born in May 1965 in Ipswich, England. Shortly after
her birth, the family moved to the Canary Islands in search of a
warmer climate. They travelled to Tenerife by boat, marking Theresa's
first experience with the sea. Shortly thereafter they moved again,
this time to Pedregalejo, Malaga on the Costa del Sol.
Theresa attended San Francisco de Asis School in Fuengirola and
from an early age showed a great aptitude for sports, including
cycling, running, basketball and, of course, sailing. Whenever possible
she would spend time at the Club Nautico in Torreblanca.
In 1975, aged just 10, Theresa Zabell took her first sailing course
in Fuengirola. It wasn't easy, there were strong winds and she had
a hard time managing the boat. She almost gave up, but fortunately
her deep-rooted love for the sea drove her to continue.
Four years later she participated in her first Spanish Championship
where she won 12th place. Next, aged just 14, Theresa participated
in her first international competition in Holland where she came
30th.
When the International Yachting Association chose Seul as the place where
the Olympic classifications would take place, Theresa tried to win
a place on the Spanish Olympic team. However, Jesus Turro, who headed
the Olympic team, decided that Adelina Gonzalez and Patricia Guerra
would represent Spain in Seul. Theresa was deeply disappointed and
decided to give up sailing. On her parents' advice, she went to
London to study.
After the Olympic games in Seul, Paul Maes, the national trainer,
tried to persuade Theresa to return to sailing. She was needed to
team up with Patricia Guerra for the subsequent Olympic games in
Barcelona. She didn't need too much persuading and the rest is history
- Theresa won her first Gold Olympic Medal in her adopted country
of residence.
Theresa subsequently met Manuel Lopez Camacho, who helped her
to form her own private team, called the "Tezeta" and
find sponsors, such as Banesto, El Corte Ingles and the Junta de
Andalucia.
Over a period of three years Theresa won three more titles, including
the European Crown and, during the summer of 1996, her second Olympic
Gold Medal.
Theresa is one of the 64 Spanish Euro-delegates in the Partido
Popular, Spain's ruling conservative party. She is married to Manolo
Lopez and they have two children.
