Figueiredo was born in Salisbury, the capital of Rhodesia – now known as Harare, Zimbabwe – in December 1963, to a Portuguese father and British mother.
[4] Following in the footsteps of a number of other Rhodesian divers, she moved to the University of Houston (UH) in the early 1980s to join their established diving program.
Figueiredo represented Zimbabwe at the 1982 World Aquatics Championships in Ecuador, where she finished in 21st position in the women's 3 m springboard competition.
[1][5] However, for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics she decided to switch allegiance to Portugal – she had Portuguese citizenship through her father – as she had lost touch with the Zimbabwean aquatic federation.
[1] However, she was quickly called back to her alma mater in 1988, as assistant diving coach, which she initially combined with her new professional career.
[2] During that visit she met with British diving prodigy, Tom Daley, who at the time was planning to move to London from his native Plymouth, and was looking for a new coach.