Fernando Pimenta criticized Marcelo and pointed to “double criteria” in jewelry

Canoeist Fernando Pimenta said this Saturday that the President of the Republic should “have more leeway” in receiving and rewarding Portuguese athletes at Belém Palace, feeling that he is being treated unequally.

“Honestly, there should be stricter criteria for the President of the Republic to receive an award. I was the only Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic medalist who was not accepted, justifying it by saying that I already had this award,” he illustrated in statements to the RTP.

After winning bronze at the Olympics, Fernando Pimenta was not invited along with other medalists, since he had previously received the same award: “They could at least call me and say:“ If you want to attend, you will be there. received, you will not have another, because you already have this one. “There is a duality of criteria.

To be honest, when I win I feel a little more Portuguese, it’s not like when I win it’s not the same. Today I won, maybe I’m Fernando Pimenta’s champion again, but he works every day and we should appreciate the sport and the athletes in Portugal more and more,” he added after winning his 133rd medal at the biggest international competitions.

Portuguese Canoeing Federation president Vitor Felix added that in addition to being received by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Air Force F16s should also accompany him “as they did with the women’s football team” after the World Cup.

“I believe that both Fernando Pimenta and a group of Portuguese athletes with a good set of results, holders of European and world titles, deserve fair and equal recognition from the highest figure in the state,” the leader emphasized.

Vitor Felix explained that this assessment should not only be for “participation in the World Cup, as happened with the women’s football team, but also for the results and sports merit of the athletes this year, and just for talking about it.”