Portugal has achieved a record-breaking medal haul at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, largely propelled by athlete Margarida Silva’s exceptional three-medal performance, including two golds.
Silva secured her second gold medal on Monday in the 5,000 meters, marking her third podium finish at the games. She also won gold in the 800 meters and a silver in the 1,500 meters.
During her 5,000m victory, Silva set a new personal record, completing the race in 17 minutes and 26.23 seconds.
The athlete expressed surprise regarding her latest gold, stating that it was unexpected. “This time I didn’t cry, because, I confess, it wasn’t a medal I was expecting,” Silva said. “I knew it was possible to be in the top three, but never a gold medal.”
She added that the moment felt “comical” given the caliber of other competitors. “I believe any athlete, when they come to compete, has to expect to win, and so we all dream of medals,” Silva noted. “But I think I’ll still have time to assimilate everything that happened here when I arrive in Portugal.”
Portugal’s total medal count now stands at six, surpassing previous national records. The country had secured four medals in both the Taipei 2009 and Caxias do Sul 2022 editions of the Deaflympics.
Other Portuguese medalists in Tokyo include Joana Santos, who won gold in judo, and André Soares, who earned a silver and a bronze across two cycling events. Additionally, Portuguese athletes have secured nine diplomas at the games.