Luis da Camões immortalized in verse the achievements of Portugal, which made June 10 its day. Tribute to an outstanding poet who died on this day, in 1580.

More than four centuries later, a Portuguese woman wrote 42,195 meters of history, which also remained forever. She was the first woman in the country to win an Olympic medal with bronze in the 1984 Los Angeles Games marathon.

The golden chapter of her Olympic pages took place at the same event in Seoul in 1988. Like her pioneering spirit in California, she was also the first Portuguese woman to rise to the top of the podium.

By 1992, of the 20 marathons he had run, he had won 14.

In continuation of the series on the Portuguese athletes who won medals at the Games, the second chapter paved a path that will never be forgotten: pink spot.

Start

She was born in the city of Porto and entered her first competition in 1972 to accompany her school friends. It was a regional crossstraight ahead). With the first participation, victory. This was followed by district tournaments, national and successive triumphs. The doors of athletics were open to her.

In the early 1980s, when he was in his early 20s, asthma almost took Mot out of sports. He had to rethink his career. It was at this time that he met Jose Pedrosaa doctor who became her trainer and also made her rethink what distances to focus on.

Six-time Brazilian champion.

Dedicated to the great tracks, in 1981 she went to South America to take part in the traditional Sao Silvestre race, held since the 20s of the last century through the streets of Sao Paulo – that year the track totaled 12.64 km.

“My first big win was in São Silvestre from São Paulo (Brazil),” he told the young people from the Athletes in Belen Palace project. She won six times in a row, from 1981 to 1986. The record for titles in women’s competitions has not yet been broken. “I miss them very much, these are the moments that remained in my heart not because of the victories, but because of the love that I received,” he added.

Kindness.

“Menin da Foch”, as it is called, has always made it clear that she runs to win, but always with a love of sports and running. On the Wednesday program of Carlos Cruz on RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal) in 1992, he stated: “What you do requires taste, dedication and effort … I ran to win, but not to make records.” “

world conquest

Encouraged by coach Proensa, Mota took part in the women’s marathon of the European Athletics Championships held in Athens, Greece in 1982. the first time a women’s marathon was officially contested in a continental tournament.

Symbolically, no doubt. It was an omen.

Mota just wanted to participate and be a part of this historical moment for women because the race was not even allowed in Portugal. He ran and what’s more, he won.

“In 1982, when I won the marathon at the European Championships, I discovered the perfect race… I have endurance but little speed. The longer the distance, the more comfortable I felt,” Mota told RTP. , in a 1992 interview, when asked at what point she realized she wanted to make a living.

The first Olympic medal came two years later, with bronze in the women’s marathon in Los Angeles in 1984. The first medal won by the Portuguese at the Games. In the same interview, he spoke of his feat: “Finishing a competition in the Olympics is good… to have a medal is great!”

The harbinger of yesteryear became even more evident in Seoul 1988. Mota won the marathon and became the Golden Rose. Starting from the 38th kilometer, he saw his coach next to him, who told him that it was time to pick up the pace and start to win.

This paved the way for new Olympic victories that came to the Portuguese at the next Games.

About that Seoul marathon, he commented to RTP after the awards ceremony: “I always felt good… every medal for Portugal is delicious when you hear the anthem… a medal for Portugal, a medal for all of us.” .