Fernando Pimenta slams Marcelo for ‘double criteria’ in awards

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 already received a similar award before: “They could at least call me and say:“ If you want to be present, you will be present. accepted, you won’t have another, because you already have this one.”

“There is a duality of criteria. To be honest, I feel a little more Portuguese when I win. Today I won, maybe Fernando Pimenta is again the champion, but he works every day and you need to appreciate the sport and the athletes in Portugal,” 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.”

Marcelo congratulates Fernando Pimenta, but does not forget about other sports

This Saturday, the President of the Republic congratulated the canoeist Fernando Pimenta, who won the gold medal in the K1 1000 meters at the World Championships in Germany, noting that the athlete “completed another outstanding feat.”

Canoeist Fernando Pimenta won the gold medal in the K1 1000m at the World Championships in Germany today, securing Portugal’s right to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In a note posted on the president’s website, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza “congratulates Olympic canoeist Fernando Pimenta, who became world champion in the K1 1000m at the Canoe World Championships in Duisburg, Germany.”

“With this third gold medal at the World Championships, which combines the bronze medal won yesterday in the K1 500m and qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Fernando Pimenta accomplishes another outstanding feat for the national sport and in particular for canoeing, in an already long career during which he has always represented Portugal at the highest level and of which the President of the Republic and all the Portuguese people are very proud.”

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also notes the “good performances of national athletes in a wide variety of sports in recent days, not only at the Canoe World Championships, but also at the World Championships in Athletics in Budapest, Hungary, at the Judo Grand Prix and at the World Championships in Athletics in Budapest, Hungary. the judo world championship among cadets in Zagreb, Croatia, the triathlon in Paris, the European Youth Championships in diving in Rijeka, Croatia, not to mention the world title of João Paulo Azevedo and Inés Barros in the mixed team shooting competition. with hunting weapons at the World Championships in this sport in Baku, Azerbaijan”.

To all the athletes, “those who have already competed and those who are still competing, the coaches and technical teams, their respective federations and the Portuguese Olympic Committee, the President of the Republic leaves words of support and encouragement, wishing all the best in personal and sports .