On at the present time, the president of the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP), José Manuel Constantino, and a delegation from the establishment delivered to Fernanda Ribeiro, in the former athlete’s Academy, in Maia, a door carved by the creator (Telmo Guerra ), one of the artworks honoring 5 Portuguese Olympic champion athletes, at present Fernanda Ribeiro (there are additionally Carlos Lopes, Rosa Mota, Nelson Évora and Pedro Pichardo).
Fernanda Ribeiro, a former athlete of FC Porto, now 53 years outdated, is the third of a number of athletes not solely to offer gold to Portugal, but in addition to obtain work (after Carlos Lopes and Nelson Évora), the place the accountable head of the COP and chief of the delegation that went to the northern metropolis on objective, José Manuel Constantino, identified, on the event, that it’s «a easy tribute to those that introduced the Portuguese flag to the highest place on the podium at the Olympic Games».
José Manuel Constantino additionally highlighted, in accordance with the letter despatched by the COP to the newsrooms, “the reserve and modest persona of the athlete, which can result in many Portuguese not figuring out the curriculum of Fernanda Ribeiro”.
«You are the athlete with the finest sporting accolades, the lady who, at the worldwide stage, has gained the most medals for Portugal», talked about José Manuel Constantino at the ceremony, the place he naturally evoked the gold in Atlanta- 1996 and the bronze in Sydney-2000, each medals in the 10,000 meters, the distance wherein he’s a specialist, with the final return to the USA tartan, 27 years in the past, the place he recovered nearly 200 meters from an obstacle of the Chinese Wang Junxia to win, immortalized in the reminiscence of the Portuguese.
With her normal humility, Fernanda Ribeiro thanks for the respect and recognition, guaranteeing that she continues to «dedicate herself to athletics», now in her Academy, which brings collectively 150 athletes, and warned «with the similar dedication» positioned « in my profession as an athlete».
Fernanda Ribeiro remembers the conquests «with dedication and sweat», and fortunately retains the reminiscences of the competitions wherein she participated, with a combination of delight, satisfaction and obligation fulfilled, as she says: «What what I have gained, no one will take from me!”
On behalf of the Olympic Athletes Commission (CAO), Catarina Costa thanked, in flip, and utilizing the phrase, «all that Fernanda Ribeiro did and nonetheless does for the nationwide sport». And with hope: “His works [de Fernanda Ribeiro] is a supply of inspiration and reference for all athletes».
There can also be João Campos – the coach of Fernanda Ribeiro -, who remembers the relationship that each and that led to the success of the athlete. And additionally Jorge Vieira, President of the Portuguese Athletics Federation (FP), who remembers “the significance of Fernanda Ribeiro’s journey” to make sure the success of the sport.
Hernâni Ribeiro, councilor of the Municipality of Maia liable for Sport, thanked the COP for the honor it gave to the Olympic champions «as a manner of encouraging younger individuals».
It must be famous that the carved doorways delivered, one for every of Portugal’s 5 Olympic champions, are the work of Telmo Guerra, native of Covilhã and emigrant to Switzerland since 2012.
The artist likes to work «in the essence of carving faces, due to their capacity to ‘disturb’». He makes use of every kind of supplies, however he likes to make use of doorways “due to their symbolism of latest beginnings, alternatives and challenges”.
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