Portugal competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. It was the nation's twenty-second consecutive appearance at the Olympics. The Olympic Committee of Portugal was represented by a delegation of 129 people, of which 77 were competitors participating in 16 sports. Nelson Évora, the 2007 triple jump world champion, was chosen as the flag bearer during the opening ceremony; he won the triple jump event, giving Portugal its fourth ever Olympic gold medal.
Medalists Medal Name Sport Event Athletics Men's triple jump Triathlon Women's triathlon
Archery
A single male archer secured qualification by winning the individual competition at the Final World Qualification Tournament, in Boé, France.
AthleteEventRanking roundRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / ScoreSeedOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankNuno PomboMen's individual65042L 103–106Did not advance
Athletics
As in previous editions, the Portuguese Olympic team's biggest share of competitors will compete in athletics events. Twenty-seven athletes (13 men and 14 women) will perform in a wide range of track and field disciplines, including the long-distance events, where Portugal holds its best record, but also the more technical events, where national athletes have achieved international-level results in the build-up to the Beijing Games.
Notable male athletes include the 2004 Olympic 100 metres silver medalist, Francis Obikwelu, and the 2007 triple jump world champion, Nelson Évora. Susana Feitor—bronze in the 20 km walk at the 2005 World Championships—and Naide Gomes—2008 world and 2007 European indoor long jump champion—are featured among the women's contingent.
Men Track & road events AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankArnaldo Abrantes200 m21.468Did not advanceAugusto Cardoso50 km walkcolspan=6 4:09:0040Paulo GomesMarathoncolspan=6 2:18:1530Edivaldo Monteiro400 m hurdles49.896colspan=2 Did not advanceFrancis Obikwelu100 m10.251 Q10.093 Q10.106Did not advanceHélder OrnelasMarathoncolspan=6 2:23:2046Alberto Paulo3000 m steeplechase8:39.1111colspan=4 Did not advanceAntónio Pereira50 km walkcolspan=6 3:48:12 NR11Rui Pedro Silva10000 mcolspan=6 29:09.0334João Vieira20 km walkcolspan=6 1:25:0532Sérgio Vieiracolspan=6 1:29:5145
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionNelson ÉvoraTriple jump17.342 Q17.67Marco FortesShot put18.0538Did not advance
Women Track & road events AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankJéssica Augusto3000 m steeplechase9:30.235colspan=2 Did not advance5000 m16:05.7114colspan=2 Did not advanceMarisa BarrosMarathoncolspan=4 2:34:0832Ana Cabecinha20 km walkcolspan=4 1:27:45 NR8Clarisse Cruz3000 m steeplechase9:49.4515colspan=2 Did not advanceAna DiasMarathoncolspan=4 2:36:2546Susana Feitor20 km walkcolspan=4 Inês MonteiroMarathoncolspan=4 Sara Moreira3000 m steeplechase9:34.3910colspan=2 Did not advanceVera Santos20 km walkcolspan=4 1:28:1410María do Carmo Tavares800 m2:01.916Did not advance
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionSílvia CruzJavelin throw57.0624Did not advanceNaide GomesLong jump6.2932Did not advanceVânia SilvaHammer throw59.4246Did not advanceSandra-Helena TavaresPole vault4.3019Did not advance
Badminton
Marco Vasconcelos qualified for his third consecutive Olympic Games in virtue of a 64th place in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) men's ranking list, which allowed him to be the 32nd qualified player in a total of 41 individual players. For the first time, women's national badminton will be represented at the Olympics, thanks to the 59th place of Ana Moura in the BWF women's ranking, which converted her in the 31st qualified player from a total of 47 individual players.
AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankMarco VasconcelosMen's singlesL 16–21, 14–21Did not advanceAna MouraWomen's singlesL 9–21, 13–21Did not advance
Canoeing
Having reached the K-1 1000 metres final and the K-1 500 metres semifinal in his first Olympic appearance, in 2004, Emanuel Silva will be participating in the same two events, in Beijing.
Portugal will be represented in the women's kayak events for the first time, with Teresa Portela and the pair Beatriz Gomes and Helena Rodrigues in the 500 metres distance. All competitors were granted qualification by allocation of spare athlete quota places.
Sprint AthleteEventHeatsSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankEmanuel SilvaMen's K-1 500 m1:42.5136 QS1:45.9855Did not advanceMen's K-1 1000 m3:31.8434 QS3:34.5084Did not advanceTeresa PortelaWomen's K-1 500 m1:53.7616 QS1:54.8316Did not advanceBeatriz GomesHelena RodriguesWomen's K-2 500 m1:47.5887 QS1:46.0215Did not advance Qualification Legend: QS = Qualify to semi-final; QF = Qualify directly to final
Cycling
A maximum of three places were allocated to Portugal in the men's road event, due to a tenth place in the 2006-2007 UCI Europe Tour nations ranking, which corresponded to a second place in terms of continental Olympic qualification. A quota place was available for the men's time trial event, but it was not taken. The national cycling federation chose to send 2004 Olympic silver medalist Sérgio Paulinho together with André Cardoso and Nuno Ribeiro. However, just five days before the road race event, it was announced that Paulinho would not compete in Beijing due to asthma problems, and that he would not be replaced by another rider.
Road AthleteEventTimeRankAndré CardosoMen's road race6:39:4272Nuno Ribeiro6:26:1728
Equestrian
Three horse riders qualified for the individual dressage competition—hence for the team competition, as well—, by benefiting from Switzerland's decision of not competing in the dressage events, but also from allocation of unused quota places. Daniel Pinto returns to the Olympic Games after his debut in Sydney 2000, while his brother Carlos Pinto will make his first Olympic appearance.
Dressage AthleteHorseEventGrand PrixGrand Prix SpecialGrand Prix FreestyleOverallScoreRankScoreRankScoreRankScoreRankMiguel Ralão DuarteOxalisIndividualWithdrewCarlos PintoNotavel61.70839Did not advanceDaniel PintoGalopin de la Font63.08333Did not advanceMiguel Ralão DuarteCarlos PintoDaniel PintoSee aboveTeamcolspan=6 Eliminated
Fencing
For the second time, since Rome 1960, Portugal qualified a female fencer for the individual foil competition. Débora Nogueira secured her place in Beijing by coming second in the European qualification tournament, held in Lisbon. She is joined by Joaquim Videira, a silver medalist in the men's individual épée at the 2006 World Fencing Championships, who qualified in virtue of his third place in the FIE individual adjusted official ranking (AOR).
Men AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / Opposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreRankJoaquim VideiraIndividual épéeW 15–10L 9–15Did not advance
Women AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / Opposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreRankDébora NogueiraIndividual foilL 4–15Did not advance
Gymnastics
Portugal had qualified two places in trampoline gymnastics.
Trampoline AthleteEventQualificationFinalScoreRankScoreRankDiogo GanchinhoMen's69.1011Did not advanceAna RenteWomen's31.6016Did not advance
Judo
In the wake of Nuno Delgado's bronze medal in 2000 (the first Olympic judo medal), the national judo scene developed considerably and new stars emerged, achieving international results of credit. Among notable judokas competing in Beijing are 2008 under-81 kg European champion, João Neto, and two-time under-52 kg European champion and 2007 World Judo Championships runner-up, Telma Monteiro.
Men AthleteEventPreliminaryRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechage 1Repechage 2Repechage 3Final / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankPedro Dias−66 kgW 0100–0001W 0101–0010L 0000–0002Did not advanceL 0001–1001Did not advanceJoão Pina−73 kgW 0010–0000L 0001–0111Did not advanceL 0010–0011Did not advanceJoão Neto−81 kgW 1010–0000W 1001–0000W 1000–0000L 0000–0001Did not advanceL 0000–1000Did not advance
Women AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsRepechage 1Repechage 2Repechage 3Final / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankAna Hormigo−48 kgW 1011–0000L 0000–0100Did not advanceW 0002–0001L 0010–0100Did not advanceTelma Monteiro−52 kgW 0211–0000L 0010–1011Did not advanceL 0001–0101Did not advance
Rowing
A national crew achieved qualification for the men's lightweight double sculls event, by reaching second place in the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta, held in Poznań.
Men AthleteEventHeatsRepechageSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankNuno MendesPedro FragaLightweight double sculls6:24.353 R6:39.071 SA/B6:39.236 FB6:28.478 Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; QF=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage
Sailing
A sport with tradition and success in the nation's Olympic history (four medals), the sailing events will feature nine Portuguese sailormen distributed among five classes. Notable sailors include former sailboard world and three-time European champion (Mistral and Neil Pryde RS:X), João Rodrigues; 2003 ISAF Laser world champion, Gustavo Lima; and 2008 470 world championship runner-up and European champion crew, Álvaro Marinho and Miguel Nunes.
Men AthleteEventRaceNet pointsFinal rank12345678910M*João RodriguesRS:X18101081416931319EL10111Gustavo LimaLaser583271761683CAN10764Álvaro MarinhoMiguel Nunes4702815611791014201028Afonso DomingosBernardo SantosStar3310133577912728
Open AthleteEventRaceNet pointsFinal rank123456789101112131415M*Francisco AndradeJorge Lima49er12791141065111312CANCANCANEL10011 M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race; CAN = Race cancelled
Shooting
Two male shooters will take part in three events. João Costa returns to the Olympics to compete in the same two events where he debuted in 2000. Manuel Silva also makes an Olympic comeback, in the trap event, sixteen years later. Both qualified as 2006 World Cup winners.
Men AthleteEventQualificationFinalPointsRankPointsRankJoão Costa10 m air pistol57918Did not advance50 m pistol54933Did not advanceManuel SilvaTrap11127Did not advance
Swimming
Portuguese swimmers have achieved qualifying standards in the swimming events (up to a maximum of two swimmers per event with the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), and potentially one with the Olympic Selection Time (OST)). Additionally, Portugal had qualified one male and one female swimmer to the inaugural open-water marathon.
Men AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankCarlos Almeida200 m breaststroke2:13.34 NR34Did not advanceDiogo Carvalho200 m individual medley2:00.6618Did not advanceFernando Costa1500 m freestyle15:26.2129colspan=2 Did not advanceArseniy Lavrentyev10 km open watercolspan=4 2:03:39.622Simão Morgado100 m butterfly52.80 NR33Did not advancePedro Oliveira200 m backstroke2:01.0828Did not advance200 m butterfly1:57.41 NR24Did not advanceTiago Venâncio100 m freestyle50.3045Did not advance200 m freestyle1:50.2439Did not advance
Women