Portugal’s swimming delegation has arrived in Lublin, Poland, for the European Short Course Championships, seeking to break a 10-year medal drought in the discipline while navigating the last-minute withdrawal of world champion Diogo Ribeiro.
The 10-member team faces an uphill battle. Portugal has not won a medal at a short course European championship since 2014.
That last medal was a bronze by Diogo Carvalho in the 200-meter individual medley at the Netanya, Israel, championships a decade ago.
The team’s medal hopes were further dampened by Diogo Ribeiro’s exit due to a “physical limitation.” Ribeiro is a world champion in the 50m and 100m butterfly.
Despite Ribeiro’s absence, the squad includes Camila Rebelo and Francisca Martins, both recent medalists in long course events. Rebelo claimed a 200m backstroke European title, and Martins earned a 400m freestyle bronze, both at Belgrade 2024.
Officials temper expectations, noting that these achievements came in Olympic-sized pools (50 meters). The 25-meter short course format in Lublin presents a different challenge.
The championships will run from Tuesday through Sunday, December 2-7. All swimmers will compete in multiple individual distances and relays.
Ricardo Antunes, the national technical director, leads the delegation.
Camila Rebelo is set to compete in the 50m, 100m, and 200m backstroke, and the 400m individual medley.
Francisca Martins will swim the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle.
Veteran Ana Pinho Rodrigues, an Olympian at London 2012, will participate in her 38th international competition for Portugal. She will swim the 50m and 100m breaststroke.
Other female swimmers include Ana Guedes (50m, 100m butterfly), Mariana Cunha (50m, 100m, 200m butterfly, 200m individual medley), and Rafaela Azevedo (50m, 100m backstroke).
The men’s team features João Costa (50m, 100m, 200m backstroke), Miguel Nascimento (50m backstroke, 50m butterfly), Alexandre Ferreira (50m, 100m breaststroke), and Vasco Morgado (100m, 200m individual medley, 100m butterfly).
Portugal will also contest several relay events. These include men’s 4x50m medley, women’s 4x50m freestyle and medley, and mixed 4x50m medley and freestyle.
The technical staff accompanying Antunes includes coaches Samie Elias, Gonçalo Neves, and Rafael Ribas.
The competition schedule for Portuguese swimmers kicks off Tuesday, December 2, with events like Francisca Martins in the 400m freestyle and Camila Rebelo in the 200m backstroke. Events are scheduled daily until Sunday, December 7.