Rain hammered down on Tokyo’s National Stadium, making conditions tough for the athletes. Amidst the downpour, Portugal’s men’s 4×400 meter relay team stepped onto the world stage for the first time at these championships. They battled through the final, ultimately finishing in ninth place.
The quartet included Pedro Afonso, Omar Elkhatib, João Coelho, and Ricardo dos Santos. They navigated four laps of the wet Japanese track, crossing the finish line in three minutes and 9.06 seconds. This placed them more than ten seconds behind the triumphant Botswana team, who clinched gold with a time of 2:57.76. The United States secured silver, with South Africa earning the bronze medal.
Portugal’s path to the final was notable. Ericsson Tavares, also part of the squad, set a new national record during the heats, clocking 2:59.70. The team secured their spot in the final after Australia faced disqualification. This allowed Portugal to advance with the seventh-fastest time from the semi-finals.
The final race, however, brought its own challenges. Coached by Victor Zabumba, the team made a critical error during the last baton exchange. This mistake, combined with a strong performance by the United States against Kenya, caused Portugal to drop one position in the starting lineup before the final. On Saturday, they had finished fifth in their semi-final and sixth overall among all competitors.
This ninth-place finish capped off Portugal’s 20th appearance at the World Championships. The nation is celebrating a successful event, having secured two gold medals. This achievement mirrors their performance from 30 years ago, back in Gothenburg in 1995, though that year also saw them win two additional medals. The championships also saw Agate Sousa add another finalist spot for Portugal, earning a commendable sixth place in the long jump.
