The ambitions of the 12 athletes who will represent Portugal at the World Cups
With Pedro Pichardo, Patrícia Mamona and Auriol Dongmo in the second largest entourage ever (and with parity, six men and six women), Portugal is aiming for Medals at the Indoor Athletics World Championships, which will take place between tomorrow and Sunday in Belgrade, Serbia. “We have candidates with very good results, with athletes with medals, but also with young people with a future“, revealed the president of the Portuguese Athletics Federation, Jorge Vieira.
Portugal has 13 medals (four from the record holder Naide Gomes) in indoor World Cups and a maximum of two podiums per edition.
Pedro Pablo Pichardo: Another attempt to break the world record
After gold at the Olympics with a jump of 17.98 meters, all eyes are on Pichardo, who dreams of jumping beyond 18.29 meters (a world record since 1995) and has a score to settle with the World Cups. In Beijing 2015, still representing Cuba, he rose to dust alongside Nelson Évora (bronze) and Christian Taylor (gold). Already as Portuguese detected the Indoor World Cups in Birmingham. Now he is looking for gold and the record in the triple jump, despite having a worse mark than Lázaro Martínez and Will Claye.
Friday, end at 11.10
Patrícia Mamona: Finding company with Olympic silver
He lacks a medal at the World Athletics Championships. After the European titles (2016 and 2021) and the silver won in Tokyo2020 with a historic participation that earned her a national record (15.01 meters), Patrícia Mamona is looking for a podium in the World Championships. After the fourth places in 2015 and 2019, the Sporting athlete also has some accounts to settle in these indoor World Cups. Castor has the eighth mark of the year among the 17 present. Olympic champion Yulimar Rojas is the big favorite over the other in the triple jump event.
Sunday, end at 10:00 am
Auriol Dongmo: World’s best test weight brand
Auriol arrives in Belgrade with the best world mark of the year (19.90 meters) in the women’s weight launch. An impressive mark by the indoor European champion, which makes Portugal dream of a medal in the best of the 31-year-old athlete, who just days ago won the European Cup, with a throw of 19.68 meters and with wind. Auriol wants the medal, as she told DN a few days ago. Will Christina Schwanitz, Maggie Ewen and Jessica Schilder put up a fight?
Friday, end at 5:55 pm
Francisco Belo: Forget the nationals with a good global brand
Francisco Belo the direct clearance by a meter, but was still selected for the shot put. He has only 16th place among the 19 entries, with 20.64 meters, and will have to get close to his personal record (21.28) to overcome the national title lost for days to Arnaudov. Ryan Crouser is the super favorite in the race.
Saturday, end at 6:40 pm
Isaac Nader: The young promise coached by Rui Silva
“Isaac Nader is an athlete of the future, coached by our great champion Rui Silva. It’s for a reason to record witness testimony record consecrated for the youngest.” This praise from the president of the federation, Jorge Vieira, dispenses with more presentations from the biggest hope of the men’s middle fund. With the 11th time among the entries, the 23-year-old from the Algarve could surprise in the 150 meters… which has Jacob Ingebritsen as a favourite.
Saturday, qualifiers at 11.15. Final is on Sunday at 17:35
Tiago Pereira: Leaving the shadow of Évora and Pichardo is complicated
Tiago Pereira is a national triple jumper. But the status is worth little disciplinary heritage with history and tradition in Portuguese athletics and heavyweights of two Olympic champions (Nélson Évora and Pichardo). He was national champion for days with 16.57 meters, far from his absolute national record (17.98) and his best indoor mark (17.36). Pichardo, Martínez and Claye are the favorites.
Tomorrow, final at 11.10
Lorene Bazolo: The sprinter who is in great shape at 38
Bazolo secured presence in Belgrade with a national registration. She ran the 60 meters in 7.17 seconds, at Jamor, and thus beat Lucrécia Jardim’s mark, which has lasted since 1998. At 38, she is in great shape, despite the strong competition that awaits in Belgrade. Four years ago they didn’t make it past the qualifiers. Ewa Swoboda lowered the seven-second barrier and left as a favorite.
Tomorrow, qualifiers at 09:15, semi-finals at 17:10 and final at 19:55
Rosalina Santos: The (almost) unknown of the 60 meters
Rosalina Santos is used to fighting Loreno Bazolo for the title in the 60 meters. Now he will make his World Cup debut. She has the best mark of 70.33s (33rd time between entries), not achieved in the return to the tracks, after almost two years of absence due to solutions.
Tomorrow, qualifiers at 9:15, semi-finals at 17:10 and final at 19:55
Carlos Nascimento: The fastest man in Portugal in the 60 meters
In 2021 he was the fifth best ranked in the European, where 6.62 seconds marks his career). It is the second time that the fastest man in Portugal in this aspect represents the nationals in indoor World Cups – in 2016 (he stayed in the qualifiers).
Saturday, qualifiers at 09:45, semi-finals at 17:40 and final at 20:20
Abdel Larrinaga: Overcoming barriers in speed is up to him
Born in Cuba 27 years ago and naturalized Portuguese in 2018, Abdel Larrinaga has the third best mark ever (7.67s) in the 60 meters hurdles. He is a combined competition athlete, who has emerged very strong in the barriers this year and can be used as a coach for Belgrade, with the help of coach Mário Aníbal. It’s more of a debut. Portugal has not had representation in this competition since 2014.
Sunday, qualifiers at 9:05 am, semi-finals at 4:05 pm and final at 6:30 pm
Cátia Azevedo: 400 meters for final and national record?
In 2021, before the Games, Cátia Azevedo improved Portugal’s 400 meters record for the third time outdoors, but seeks to beat the indoor record that still belongs to Carmo Tavares (52.77s). Making it to the final and establishing a new personal brand is the ultimate goal of an experienced sprinter.
Tomorrow, qualifiers at 10:45 and final on Saturday at 18:50.
Jessica Inchude: Last-minute guest wants to improve record
Jessica Inude did not expect to be summoned to Belgrade. With 18.10 meters as the best mark of the year, the Portuguese, who was infected with covid-19 less than a month and a half ago, was invited to participate thanks to her 35th place in the classification world championship: “My hope is to go to the final and try to beat my personal record.”
Tomorrow, final at 17:55.