Portuguese swimmers are vying to end a nearly decade-long medal drought as the European Short Course Championships commence this week in Lublin, Poland.
A lean squad of 10 athletes represents Portugal, with the nation’s last medal at this competition secured in 2015 by Diogo Carvalho in the 200-meter individual medley.
The primary hopes for podium finishes rest on Camila Rebelo and Francisca Martins, both of whom achieved success at the Belgrade 2024 European Championships earlier this year.
Rebelo, a European champion in the 200m backstroke, is targeting the finals and aims to surpass her fifth-place finish at the previous short course Europeans in Otopeni. She holds the 12th entry time for her 200m backstroke event.
Martins, who earned a bronze in the 400m freestyle at Belgrade 2024, also expressed her ambition to reach the finals and achieve personal bests. She enters the 400m freestyle with the 13th fastest time.
The team faces the championships without prominent swimmer Diogo Ribeiro, who is absent due to physical limitations.
Competition for the Portuguese contingent began on Tuesday, December 2, with Martins in the 400m freestyle and Rebelo in the 200m backstroke. Other swimmers in action on the opening day included Ana Guedes, Mariana Cunha, Miguel Nascimento, Ana Pinho Rodrigues, Alexandre Ferreira, and João Costa, along with the women’s 4x50m freestyle relay.
The championships will continue through Sunday, December 7. Vasco Morgado, Rafaela Azevedo, and other members of the team are scheduled to compete across various individual and relay events throughout the week.