Portugal’s swimmers with Down syndrome achieved four additional gold medals and set two new world records at the European Championships in Albufeira, solidifying their dominant performance on Tuesday. The latest victories bring Portugal’s total gold medal count to eight after the second day of competition.
Two new world records in short course swimming were established by Portuguese relay teams.
In the morning, the mixed 4×50 meter medley relay team, comprised of Matilde Gaspar, Diana Torres, Vicente Pereira, and Filipe Santos, set a new world mark with a time of 2 minutes, 40.18 seconds.
Later in the day, Pereira and Santos returned to the pool with André Almeida and Diogo Matos for the 4×100 freestyle relay. They completed the distance in 4 minutes, 49.49 seconds, securing another global record.
Vicente Pereira continued his impressive run, earning gold in the 50-meter butterfly with a time of 43.96 seconds. He had previously won the 100-meter freestyle on Monday, setting a new record in the heats.
Diogo Matos added a gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, finishing in 1 minute, 28.53 seconds. This victory followed his gold in the 200-meter breaststroke on the previous day.
Matilde Gaspar and Diana Torres, both members of the world-record-setting medley relay team, also earned individual silver medals. Gaspar was European vice-champion in the 100-meter breaststroke (1 minute, 45.31 seconds), while Torres secured silver in the 50-meter butterfly (43.96 seconds).
Portugal further increased its medal haul with two bronze finishes. André Almeida placed third in the 200-meter freestyle, clocking 2 minutes, 38.78 seconds.
Sofia Fonseca earned a bronze in the 200-meter freestyle mosaic, recording a time of 3 minutes, 6.82 seconds, which set a new junior world record for the short course event.