Portugal won 23 medals on Wednesday in the second day of the SUDS European Championships for athletes with Down syndrome, held in Italy, in athletics, swimming and table tennis.
In Padua, the Portuguese athletes won 11 swimming medals, four of which were gold, won by Vicente Pereira – who won the 200-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly -, João Vaz (100 breaststroke) and the 4×100 relay.
The four silver medals were won by Matilde Gaspar (100 breaststroke), Diogo Matos (100 breaststroke), Francisco Montes (800 freestyle) and the 4×100 mixed relay, while the three silver medals were won by André Almeida and Filipa Reis, in the 800 free, and by Diana Torres, in the 50 butterfly.
In athletics, the Portuguese also won 11 medals, two gold, eight silver and one bronze.
The two golds were won by Isabela Santos (1,500 meters T21), and by Francisco Gouveia (800 mosaic meters), and the eight silvers by Maria Vicente, André Silva, Maria Luísa Câmara, Francisco Gouveia, Bruno Leitão and by the men’s relay. and women’s 4×100 meters.
Luís Gonçalves won the only bronze medal achieved on Wednesday in athletics, and in table tennis, the duo João Soldado Gonçalves/João Oliveira won gold in men’s pairs, revalidating the European title.
In collective disciplines, the futsal team beat Italy 4-2 and finished leading the first phase of the competition, guaranteeing their presence in the semifinal, scheduled for Friday, in which they will face the Republic of Ireland.
The Portuguese basketball team had two defeats, against Turkey (18-5) and Hungary (24-20). On Friday, the Portuguese team faces Italy, in the last match of the first phase, but has already secured a place in the play-off for access to the bronze match, in which they will play Hungary.
This Thursday, the competitions of the SUDS European Championship, which brings together 514 athletes from 21 countries, who compete in eight sports, are suspended due to the usual social program.
Portugal, which won eight medals on the first day of competition, is represented by 48 athletes, who compete in six disciplines: athletics, 4×4 basketball, futsal, judo, swimming and table tennis.
Source: TSF
