Victoria "Tori" Peña[1] (born 30 July 1987[2]) is an Irish American/Mexican American pole vaulter,[1][3]
She was born in Los Alamitos, California.[2] Her father's family are of Mexican extraction, and her maternal grandmother Angela McCoy (née Coyle) was born in Derry.[1] Peña lives in Huntington Beach, where she graduated from Edison High School.[2] In 2003, she competed in Killarney at the World Irish Dancing Championships.[1] She earned a degree in International Development Studies[1] from the University of California, Los Angeles, and competed for the UCLA Bruins,[2] although frequently hampered by injuries.[4] Her Irish grandmother made her eligible for Irish nationality,[3] 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.[1] Her personal best of 4.35 metres (14 ft 3 in) was set shortly before she had acquired Irish nationality, but was sufficient to qualify for the pole vault at the European Athletics championships in Barcelona.[1] In July 2010 won the Irish national championships at Morton Stadium with an Irish record of 4.15 metres (13 ft 7 in),[3] which she equalled in Barcelona.[5] 5 March 2011 she set Irish indoor pole vault record (4.35)[6].