The Portuguese swimmer Diogo Ribeiro was runner-up in the world in the 50-meter butterfly, in the world swimming championships, which take place in Fukuoka, Japan. It is the first time that Portugal has won a medal in a world swimming championship.
The historic feat of the 18-year-old, who is making his debut in the senior World Cup, was achieved with a time of 22.80 seconds -national record-, behind the Italian Thomas Ceccon and ahead of the Frenchman Maxime Grousset.
“I’m speechless! I still can’t believe it. It’s a dream come true! I knew I could dream. Take on one race at a time. Focus and give it your all!” says Diogo Ribeiro, quoted by the Portuguese Swimming Federation.
PURE SWIMMING
Fukuoka World Cup 2023.
Diogo Ribeiro is SILVER in the 50 butterfly!
National record 22.80!
The Italian Thomas Ceccon is gold and the Frenchman Maxime Grousset, bronze.
RESULTS and LIVE: https://t.co/ak6ASbHWq5 pic.twitter.com/v6slQYVIEG-FPN (@fpnatacao) July 24, 2023
This is Diogo Ribeiro’s second medal in senior competitions, after being third at the 2022 Europeans, in Rome, over the same distance.
In world championships, Portugal had only achieved a 5th place in the 200 breaststroke, in Madrid 1986, and an eighth place in the 50 breaststroke, in Perth 1991, achieved respectively by Alexandre Yokochi and Ana Barros.
TO TSFformer Portuguese swimmer Paulo Frischknecht says Diogo Ribeiro’s achievement “takes swimming to a whole other level.”
“He [Diogo Ribeiro] he ends up accomplishing two feats in the same race and in the space of 24 hours. On the one hand, being one of the few Portuguese to reach a final in an absolute World Cup and then get a medal ”, he underlines.
The Swimming World Cup runs until next Sunday, July 30 in Fukuoka, Japan.
Among the other Portuguese competing this Monday, João Costa secured a place in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, by beating the 100-meter backstroke national record in the heats, with a mark of 53.71, improving the previous Portuguese maximum (53.87), which already belonged to him.
In the semifinals, the swimmer from Vitória de Guimarães completed the 16th time, with 54.30, 2.14 behind the fastest, the Italian Thomas Ceccon, who shortly after became world champion of the 50 butterfly, in the final in which the Portuguese Diogo Ribeiro won silver.
Camila Rebelo, who already has the Olympic minimums in the 200-meter backstroke, marked the 24th time, among 61 registered swimmers, in the 100-meter backstroke qualifying, with 1:01.27 minutes, and was left out of the semifinals.
In the 100-meter breaststroke heats, Ana Pinho Rodrigues finished with 1.09.97 minutes, achieving the 37th time among 57 registered swimmers.
In the 1,500 freestyle, Tamila Holub finished her series with 16:30.39 minutes in the heats, achieving the 20th time, while Diana Durães marked 17:05.18, achieving the 28th mark, in a distance in which the qualification for the final closed in 16:01.95.
News updated at 14:05
Source: TSF
