Portugal’s national swimming team will compete without its star athlete, Diogo Ribeiro, at the upcoming European Short Course Championships after he withdrew due to a physical limitation.
The Portuguese Swimming Federation (FPN) announced Ribeiro’s absence on Saturday, just three days before the competition is set to begin in Lublin, Poland. The championships run from Tuesday through Sunday.
Ribeiro, 21, is the reigning 2024 world champion in both the 50-meter and 100-meter butterfly events. He was considered the most prominent member of Portugal’s 11-strong squad.
The FPN stated that “the decision is due to a physical limitation, which has conditioned his performance, preventing him from being in optimal conditions for participation, safeguarding the interests of the national team.”
His withdrawal shifts attention to other national team members, including Camila Rebelo, who won a European title in the 200-meter backstroke at Belgrade in 2024, and Francisca Martins, a bronze medalist in the 400-meter freestyle at the same long-course competition.
Despite the setback, the FPN, led by President Miguel Arrobas, affirmed its confidence. “The FPN maintains its enthusiasm and confidence in the swimmers who will be present in competition, maintaining in the same way the objectives set for this European Short Course,” the federation stated.