Swimmer Diogo Ribeiro and cyclist Maria Martins are recognized as athletes of the year

Swimmer Diogo Ribeiro was elected male athlete of the year 2023 this Friday, while cyclist Maria Martins was chosen in the women’s category at a sports gala in which football and canoeing “tied” for honors.

The Gala Confederation of the Portuguese Sports Confederation (CDP) “moved” from the Estoril Casino to the pavilion of Carlos Lopez, the main winner of the evening, who received the Sports Merit-High Prestige award, changed “outfits” and dates, but maintained the tradition of recognizing the best in sports, among of whom were also Hélio Lucas (Coach) and Norberto Mourão (Adapted Sports), both representatives of canoeing, the women’s football team (Team) and footballer João Neves (Young Promise).

At 19 years old, Diogo Ribeiro makes his debut among the winners in the male category, beating big names: canoeist Fernando Pimento, winner of the last edition and won 13 medals, including three gold medals in the world speed race and marathon. Championships, football player Bernardo Silva, English champion, European and world champion with Manchester City, as well as cyclists Yuri Leitan, world all-around champion, and Joao Almeida, who took third place in the Tour of Italy.

“I would like to thank everyone who supported me for the award,” began the reigning 50m and 100m butterfly world champion, who today competed for the title of 2023 Male Athlete of the Year with silver in the 50m. meter butterfly at the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships, before revealing that he was almost unable to “arrive on time” to receive the award as he was training.

If the choice of “wonderkid” Diogo Ribeiro was expected, the choice of Maria Martins surprised when the European scratch champion was chosen as the 2023 athlete of the year against last year’s winner Oriol Dongmo, the European indoor shot put champion, and the canoeist Teresa Portela, a European athlete. K2 200m medley champion, gymnast Filipe Martins, who achieved her third Olympic qualification, and soccer player Francisca “Kika” Nazareth, who was part of the women’s team that qualified for the World Championships for the first time.

“I’m very surprised, very sincerely. I want to say a word of gratitude to my team, who have always been with me. I could list them, but they know who they are,” said Tata Martins, with the Portuguese track and field star getting emotional at of your speech.

Among those nominated for Coach of the Year, preference was given to Hélio Lucas, the coach with the most European and world titles and medals in Portuguese canoeing, over selectors Albert Silva (swimming), Gabriel Mendes (track cycling), Paulo Jorge Pereira. (handball) and Francisco Neto (women’s football team).

“It was an honor to be nominated again. I admit, I didn’t expect anything,” Lucas admitted.

In fact, canoeing was recognized twice: in the adapted sport category, paracanoeist Norberto Mouran, European runner-up in VL2, was selected. Other nominees were swimmers Diogo Cancela and Vicente Pereira, judokas Miguel Vieira and Carla Silva Oliveira (boccia).

Football also left the Carlos Lopez Pavilion in Lisbon with two awards: Team of the Year and Young Promise, given respectively to the women’s team that won an unprecedented World Cup qualification and to midfielder Joao Neves of Benfica.

The women’s football team, which failed in the group stage in its debut World Cup, beat out canoeists João Ribeiro and Messias Batista, world champions in the K2 500m, the senior trampoline team in the all-around, vice-world champion, and became the cyclists Ivo Oliveira and Yuri Leitau, who won unprecedented gold at the Milton stage of the Athletics Nations Cup in the Olympic discipline in Madison, as well as the figure skating duo Ana Valgoda and Pedro Valgoda, world and European champions in the dance pairs category. .

“This award speaks volumes to a group of players who represent an entire generation,” stressed coach Francisco Neto, praising the affirmation of women’s sport thanks to the fame achieved by a group of “very ambitious” players who had “no obstacles.”

Joao Neves, 19, who was absent from the ceremony, beat out competition from cyclist António Morgado, second-placed world under-23 distance champion, triathlete Joao Nuno Bautista, junior world champion, and skateboarder Diogo Mado Teixeira, fourth in the competition. European Youth Olympic Festival, as well as handball player Diogo Rema, Porto goalkeeper and national team player.

The 27th Sports Gala concluded with a tribute to Carlos Lopez, who was presented with the Alto Prestigio award, the organization’s highest honor, in a year that marks 40 years since he became Olympic champion in the Los Angeles Marathon in 1984 – Portugal’s first gold at the Olympic Games.

“I think it was worth all the sacrifices I’ve made throughout my career,” he admitted to the audience after declaring in a recorded message that “the country needs people who think seriously about sports.”