Portugal’s athletes delivered a stunning performance on the opening day of the Down Syndrome European Championships in Albufeira, securing three world records and a total of 10 medals. The strong start positions the Portuguese team as a dominant force early in the competition.
Swimmer Vicente Pereira set a new world record in the 100-meter freestyle, clocking 1 minute, 4.83 seconds, improving his own previous best. He also claimed a second gold medal as part of the 4x100m medley relay team.
The relay quartet, which included Diogo Rego, Diogo Matos, and André Almeida alongside Pereira, also established a new world record with a time of 5 minutes, 22.16 seconds.
Matilde Gaspar contributed another world record, winning the 200m breaststroke in 3 minutes, 39.61 seconds.
Beyond the three main world records, José Vieira achieved a Masters 2 world record while securing a bronze medal in his 200m breaststroke event with a time of 3 minutes, 31.24 seconds.
Sofia Fonseca also set a junior world record in the 50m backstroke, where she earned a bronze medal alongside Diana Torres in a mosaic event.
Other medalists from the day included Diogo Matos, who won gold in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 3 minutes, 19.05 seconds.
André Almeida secured a silver medal in the 400m freestyle. He also earned a gold medal as part of the record-breaking medley relay team.
Francisco Montes and Sofia Fonseca each claimed bronze medals in their respective 400m freestyle races.