The Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) honored a diverse array of athletes, coaches, and sports organizations, including a new award for grassroots development, during its annual Olympic Celebration in Lisbon on Thursday.
Former WNBA player Ticha Penicheiro, recently inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, received the prestigious Prestige Award from the COP. This award recognizes individuals for excellence and notable careers in sports. Penicheiro retired from playing in 2012.
The event also marked the debut of the José Manuel Constantino Award. Named after the former COP president who died on August 11, 2024, the award recognizes a sports club for outstanding quality and continuity in grassroots sports.
The first recipient was BECA-Bastinhos Escola Clube de Andebol de Celorico de Basto. This club provides free and accessible sports practice to young people in its municipality, working with local school groups.
Current athletic champions were also recognized. World triple jump champion Pedro Pichardo, European judo champion Patrícia Sampaio, and 1,500-meter world champion Isaac Nader received the Sports Excellence Award.
They were joined by canoeists Gustavo Gonçalves, João Ribeiro, Messias Baptista, and Pedro Casinha. The K4 500-meter team won both European and world championships.
Portugal’s first Olympic gold medalist, Carlos Lopes, received the National Olympic Order. Lopes won the marathon at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. The order recognizes high-level personalities for significant contributions to the Olympic movement.
Coaches Paulo Jorge Pereira, who guided Portugal’s national handball team to fourth place at this year’s World Championship, and Rui Fernandes, coach of the K4 500 canoe team, were given the Sports Merit Award.
The Youth Award went to Jéssica Rodrigues, Portugal’s first world champion in winter sports as a junior speed skater in the mass start discipline. Handball player Francisco Costa, named the best young player at the World Championship, also received this honor.
Professor Manuel Sérgio, a prominent Portuguese sports thinker who passed away in February, received the Sports Ethics Award posthumously.
Other awards included the Olympic Education Award to the Faculty of Sports Science and Physical Education of the University of Coimbra. The Research Center in Sport, Health and Human Development received the Scientific Research Award.