The Portuguese Athletics Federation highlighted this Friday the 50 years since the first Portuguese gold medal in a World Championship, won by Carlos Lopes on February 28, 1976, in Chepstow, Wales, with a tribute at the organization’s headquarters, in Linda-a-Velha. The former long distance runner, who became the first honorary member of the federation, recalled the victory as a landmark moment for the country and for the appreciation of the sport.
“I think it was a very special affection for the 50th anniversary, for the 79th that I did not long ago. For the first time, the Federation has the courage to honor and honor what we did many years ago”, he stated, highlighting that the achievement “marked history” and contributed to changing mentalities, showing that sport was “an asset for all of us and, above all, an asset for mental health”.
The former cross country world champion assured that he remembers the race “perfectly” and said that he soon realized the outcome. “At the end of the first round I already knew I was going to win. The state of mind I had, the capacity I had and knowing the moments in which I had to decide”, he recalled, adding that reaching the finish line “with the medal already guaranteed” made up for “all the sacrifices of 12 years to reach that moment”.
The triumph preceded the Olympic marathon title at the 1984 Los Angeles Games by eight years, but Lopes highlighted that he was never afraid of failing. “One of my secrets was to never be afraid of losing. When you’re not afraid, you go there and free yourself from pressure. It’s a party”, He declared, addressing young people: “Do sport with pleasure, with joy and with the idea of expanding your own skills”.
During the ceremony, the athlete explained that he did not receive money for the 1976 victory, although he considers it decisive in his life. “It was the door, it was the window that gave me the possibility of continuing to live peacefully,” he said. He also remembered balancing work and training: he would get up at 6:30 am to train before fulfilling his job and family responsibilities, highlighting that “nothing fell from the sky”.
The president of the federation, Domingos Castro, spoke of “gratitude” towards his former Sporting teammate, admitting that his own career was influenced by his idol. He mentioned having trained with Lopes “very little, because Carlos Lopes’ pace had nothing to do with other athletes” and considered it unlikely that another similar athlete would emerge in Portugal.
The state secretary of Sports, Pedro Dias, stated that recognizing merit is an essential principle and highlighted the former long distance runner as a figure who “continues to be, was and always will be an idol that inspires” the population.
Lopes, now 79 years old, said he likes to be remembered by “living in the moments and feeling that people still like” him. Among sporting memories, he also spoke about his current life, marked by the normality of everyday life, saying that he tries to maintain balance at home and even cook when requested by his family, causing laughter in the audience.
The tribute included delivery of a crystal trophy and messages from athletes from various generations. The former champion concluded by highlighting the meaning of his career: “I went through great moments, I lived it, I felt it. It was worth it.”
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